Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 57

अग्निकार्य-होमविधिः

Agnikārya and Homa Procedure

Devanagari script

तैजसं दारवं वापि मृन्मयं शैलमेव च । अन्यद्वा शोभनं शुद्धं भस्माधारं प्रकल्पयेत्

Transliteration

taijasaṃ dāravaṃ vāpi mṛnmayaṃ śailameva ca | anyadvā śobhanaṃ śuddhaṃ bhasmādhāraṃ prakalpayet

Translation

Man soll ein Behältnis für Bhasma bereiten — aus Metall, Holz, Ton oder Stein; oder ein anderes schönes und reines Gefäß, damit die Bhasma für die Verehrung angemessen aufbewahrt wird.

Word by Word

• तैजसम्: made of metal/fiery (tejas-born)
• तैजसम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तैजस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of भस्माधारम्)

• दारवम्: wooden
• दारवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दारव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्प (or)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-कार (also/even)

• मृन्मयम्: earthen
• मृन्मयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृद् (प्रातिपदिक) + मयट् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: तद्धितान्त (मयट्) ‘made of clay’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शैलम्: stone (made)
• शैलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• अन्यत्: other
• अन्यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्प (or)

• शोभनम्: beautiful/suitable
• शोभनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोभन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शुद्धम्: pure/clean
• शुद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• भस्म-आधारम्: ash-container
• भस्म-आधारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्म (प्रातिपदिक) + आधार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी) ‘भस्मनः आधारः’; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• प्रकल्पयेत्: should prepare
• प्रकल्पयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-कल्प् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘should prepare/arrange’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches reverence and ritual purity toward bhasma, a Shaiva sacramental sign that supports devotion and inner detachment, reminding the seeker of impermanence and turning the mind toward Pati (Shiva).

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

Bhasma is a key upacāra in Saguna Shiva worship; keeping it in a clean, dedicated holder preserves sanctity for applying Tripuṇḍra and for Shiva-pūjā, aligning the devotee’s body and intention with Linga devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain a pure, dedicated bhasmādhāra (ash container) and use the bhasma respectfully for Shaiva practice such as Tripuṇḍra application and preparatory purity before mantra-japa (e.g., the Panchakshara).