Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 18

अग्निकार्य-होमविधिः

Agnikārya and Homa Procedure

Devanagari script

स्वसूत्रोक्तक्रमात्कुर्यान्मूलमन्त्रेण मन्त्रवित् । शिवमूर्तिं समभ्यर्च्य ततो दक्षिणपार्श्वतः

Transliteration

svasūtroktakramātkuryānmūlamantreṇa mantravit | śivamūrtiṃ samabhyarcya tato dakṣiṇapārśvataḥ

Translation

Gemäß der in der eigenen Ritual-Sūtra vorgeschriebenen Ordnung soll der Mantra-Kenner die Verehrung mit dem Mūla-Mantra vollziehen. Nachdem er die Mūrti Śivas gebührend verehrt hat, soll er sich danach zur rechten Seite (der Gottheit/des Altars) begeben.

Word by Word

• स्व-सूत्र-उक्त-क्रमात्: according to the sequence stated in one’s own sūtra
• स्व-सूत्र-उक्त-क्रमात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + सूत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + उक्त (कृदन्त) + क्रम (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (अपादान), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (‘स्वसूत्रे उक्तः क्रमः’ तस्मात्)

• कुर्यात्: should do/perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• मूल-मन्त्रेण: with the root-mantra
• मूल-मन्त्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (मूलः मन्त्रः)

• मन्त्र-वित्: the knower of mantras
• मन्त्र-वित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + विद् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘knower’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (मन्त्रान् वेत्ति इति)

• शिव-मूर्तिम्: Śiva’s image/form
• शिव-मूर्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य मूर्तिः)

• समभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• समभ्यर्च्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-अभि-√अर्च् (धातु) → समभ्यर्च्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वक्रिया (having worshipped)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Desha-Kala (देश-काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) — क्रम/अनन्तरार्थे ‘then/thereafter’

• दक्षिण-पार्श्वतः: on/from the right side
• दक्षिण-पार्श्वतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक) + पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक) + तः (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (adverb) — दिशार्थे/स्थानार्थे ‘from/on the right side’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya, as typical of Purāṇic transmission in the Vāyavīya discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined, authorized worship: when devotion is guided by right method (sūtra-krama) and empowered by the root-mantra, the devotee approaches Śiva in a pure, focused way—supporting inner purification and readiness for Śiva’s grace.

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

By explicitly mentioning “Śiva-mūrti” and mantra-based worship, it supports Saguna upāsanā—approaching Śiva through a consecrated form (including liṅga or icon) with the mūla-mantra, which steadies the mind and sanctifies the act of pūjā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform pūjā in the prescribed order using the mūla-mantra (commonly understood in Shaiva practice as the Pañcākṣarī, ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’), and observe auspicious right-side movement/positioning after offering worship.