Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 16

पूजास्थानशुद्धिः पात्रशोधनं च — Purification of the Worship-Space and Preparation of Ritual Vessels

Devanagari script

अन्तःपुराधिपं साक्षान्नन्दिनं सम्यगर्चयेत् । चामीकराचलप्रख्यं सर्वाभरणभूषितम्

Transliteration

antaḥpurādhipaṃ sākṣānnandinaṃ samyagarcayet | cāmīkarācalaprakhyaṃ sarvābharaṇabhūṣitam

Translation

Man soll Nandin selbst, den wahren Herrn des inneren Heiligtums Śivas, in rechter Weise verehren: strahlend wie ein Berg aus Gold und geschmückt mit jeglichem Schmuck.

Word by Word

• अन्तःपुराधिपम्: the lord of the inner precinct (Nandin)
• अन्तःपुराधिपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antaḥpura + adhipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘अन्तःपुरस्य अधिपः’

• साक्षात्: directly, in person
• साक्षात्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sākṣāt (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb): ‘directly/in person’

• नन्दिनम्: Nandin
• नन्दिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nandin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); अन्तःपुराधिपम् इत्यस्य समानाधिकरण (apposition)

• सम्यक्: properly
• सम्यक्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samyak (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb): ‘properly’

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √arc (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद; णिच् (causative) प्रयोग: ‘अर्चयति’ = worships

• चामीकराचलप्रख्यम्: shining like a golden mountain
• चामीकराचलप्रख्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cāmīkara + acala + prakhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); उपमान-तत्पुरुष: ‘चामीकराचलवत् प्रख्यः’ (renowned/like a golden mountain); विशेषण to नन्दिनम्

• सर्वाभरणभूषितम्: adorned with all ornaments
• सर्वाभरणभूषितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva + ābharaṇa + bhūṣita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle) ‘भूषित’ from √bhūṣ; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘सर्वैः आभरणैः भूषितः’ (adorned with all ornaments)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Nandi
• Shiva

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It teaches that devotion should be orderly and reverent—honouring Nandin, Śiva’s foremost attendant and gatekeeper, symbolizes disciplined approach to Pati (Śiva) through humility and right worship.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

In Saguna worship, the Lord is approached through His manifest presence and sacred retinue; venerating Nandin aligns the devotee with Śiva’s abode and prepares the mind for focused Linga-arcana.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform proper arcana to Nandi—offerings with reverence before proceeding to Śiva’s main worship—cultivating steadiness, purity of intention, and devotional concentration (bhakti).