Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 62

अग्निकार्य-होमविधिः

Agnikārya and Homa Procedure

Devanagari script

स्वसूत्रोक्तप्रकाराद्वा बलिकर्म समाचरेत् । अथ विद्यासनं न्यस्य सुप्रलिप्ते तु मण्डले

Transliteration

svasūtroktaprakārādvā balikarma samācaret | atha vidyāsanaṃ nyasya supralipte tu maṇḍale

Translation

Oder man vollziehe das Opfer- und Darbringungsritual (balikarma) nach der im eigenen Ritual-Sūtra vorgeschriebenen Weise. Danach soll man in einer gut bestrichenen und ordnungsgemäß bereiteten Maṇḍala den Sitz der heiligen Erkenntnis (vidyāsana) niederlegen.

Word by Word

• स्व-सूत्र-उक्त-प्रकारात्: from/according to the method stated in one’s own sūtra
• स्व-सूत्र-उक्त-प्रकारात्: Hetu/Pramāṇa (हेतु/प्रमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + सूत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + उक्त (कृदन्त, √वच्) + प्रकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (अपादान), एकवचन; समासः: स्वसूत्रे उक्तः प्रकारः यस्मात् (according to the method stated in one’s own sūtra)

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विकल्प (disjunctive particle: or)

• बलि-कर्म: the bali-offering rite
• बलि-कर्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; बल्यर्थं कर्म (offering-rite)

• समाचरेत्: should perform
• समाचरेत्: Vidhi (विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-√चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अथ: then
• अथ: Anukrama (अनुक्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनन्तरार्थक (then/now)

• विद्या-आसनम्: the seat of Vidyā
• विद्या-आसनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक) + आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; विद्यायाः आसनम् (seat for the deity/vidyā)

• न्यस्य: having placed
• न्यस्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√अस्/√न्यस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having placed/installed’

• सु-प्रलिप्ते: well-smeared
• सु-प्रलिप्ते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + प्रलिप्त (कृदन्त, प्र-√लिप्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरणविशेषण), एकवचन; ‘well-smeared’ (qualifying maṇḍale)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विरोध/विशेष (particle: but/indeed)

• मण्डले: in the maṇḍala (ritual diagram)
• मण्डले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shaiva worship is both inward and outward: disciplined ritual order (bali and maṇḍala) supports the steady installation of sacred awareness (vidyā), preparing the devotee for grace-oriented practice.

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

By prescribing preparatory rites and a purified maṇḍala, it frames saguna worship as a consecrated space where the Lord’s presence is invited through correct procedure, leading the mind toward Shiva as Pati (the Lord) beyond the ritual.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform balikarma as per one’s tradition, then prepare a well-smeared maṇḍala and install a vidyāsana—an ordered setup for mantra practice, nyāsa, and focused meditation before the main Shaiva worship.