Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 35

अग्निकार्य-होमविधिः

Agnikārya and Homa Procedure

Devanagari script

निधाय पुष्पं तस्याग्रे श्रुवेणाधोमुखेन ताम् । सदर्भेन समाच्छाद्य मूलेनांजलिनोत्थितः

Transliteration

nidhāya puṣpaṃ tasyāgre śruveṇādhomukhena tām | sadarbhena samācchādya mūlenāṃjalinotthitaḥ

Translation

Nachdem er eine Blume davor niedergelegt hatte, stellte er die sruva (Opferlöffel) mit der Öffnung nach unten. Dann bedeckte er sie mit Darbha-Gras und erhob sich vom Fuß des Sitzes/Altars, die Hände im Añjali (Ehrfurchtsgruß) gefaltet.

Word by Word

• निधाय: having placed
• निधाय: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), उपसर्ग: नि-; अर्थ: ‘स्थापयित्वा/निक्षिप्य’

• पुष्पम्: a flower
• पुष्पम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• तस्य: of him/its
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; लिङ्ग-निर्देशः सन्दर्भानुसार

• अग्रे: in front
• अग्रे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; स्थानवाचक

• श्रुवेण: with the ladle
• श्रुवेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘श्रुवा’ (ladle)

• अधोमुखेन: with (it) facing downward
• अधोमुखेन: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधोमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: अधः + मुख; नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (सन्दर्भानुसार), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (श्रुवेण)

• ताम्: that (her/it)
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• स-दर्भेन: with darbha grass
• स-दर्भेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + स (उपसर्ग/अव्ययार्थक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सह/युक्त): स + दर्भ; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• समाच्छाद्य: having covered
• समाच्छाद्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-छद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), उपसर्ग: सम्-आ-; अर्थ: ‘आच्छाद्य/आवृत्य’

• मूलेन: with the root/base
• मूलेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• अञ्जलिना: with joined palms
• अञ्जलिना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• उत्थितः: (he) stood up/rose
• उत्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे ‘उत्थितः’ = ‘उत्थाय स्थितः’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Highlights ritual ‘saṃskāra’ of implements (covering, placing, orienting) as a discipline that steadies the mind; such orderliness supports inner purification leading toward Śiva’s revealing grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights the disciplined, reverential closure/transition within worship—outer ritual order (placing offerings, arranging implements, using darbha) supports inner humility (añjali) and steadiness of mind directed to Pati (Shiva).

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

The actions describe careful ritual conduct before the worship-object, consistent with Saguna Shiva/Linga-puja where tangible offerings and prescribed purity (darbha, proper placement of implements) become vehicles for focused devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain ritual cleanliness and order (proper placement of implements, use of darbha), then conclude or proceed with añjali (joined palms) and a collected mind—ideally accompanied by Shiva-mantra japa such as the Panchakshara.