Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 22

आवरणपूजाविधानम् / The Procedure of Āvaraṇa (Enclosure) Worship

Devanagari script

घृतेन मधुना चैव सिद्धो धूपः प्रशस्यते । कपिलासम्भवेनैव घृतेनातिसुगन्धिना

Transliteration

ghṛtena madhunā caiva siddho dhūpaḥ praśasyate | kapilāsambhavenaiva ghṛtenātisugandhinā

Translation

Räucherwerk, bereitet mit Ghee und Honig, wird als höchst lobenswert gepriesen — besonders, wenn es aus überaus duftendem Ghee stammt, gewonnen von der fahlbraunen Kapilā-Kuh.

Word by Word

• घृतेन: with ghee
• घृतेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• मधुना: with honey
• मधुना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• सिद्धः: prepared, perfected
• सिद्धः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषण

• धूपः: incense
• धूपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• प्रशस्यते: is praised/commended
• प्रशस्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + शंस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive)

• कपिला-सम्भवेन: produced from a tawny cow (cow-derived)
• कपिला-सम्भवेन: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कपिला (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कपिलायाः सम्भवः)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपात

• घृतेन: with ghee
• घृतेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• अति-सुगन्धिना: with very fragrant (ghee)
• अति-सुगन्धिना: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + सुगन्धिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (अतिशयेन सुगन्धि)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that external offerings, when pure and carefully prepared, become vehicles of bhakti—refining the devotee’s intention and honoring Shiva as Pati, the Lord who accepts sincere worship.

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

Dhoopa is a standard upacāra in Linga-pūjā; offering well-prepared, fragrant incense supports Saguna worship by creating a sanctified atmosphere for focused remembrance of Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Offer dhoopa compounded with ghee and honey (ideally fragrant cow-ghee) during Shiva pūjā, while maintaining steady japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and a calm, reverent mind.