Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 66

अग्निकार्य-होमविधिः

Agnikārya and Homa Procedure

Devanagari script

श्रद्दधानो न लोभेन न चण्डाय समर्पितम् । गन्धमाल्यादि यच्चान्यत्तत्राप्येष समो विधिः

Transliteration

śraddadhāno na lobhena na caṇḍāya samarpitam | gandhamālyādi yaccānyattatrāpyeṣa samo vidhiḥ

Translation

Mit Glauben (śraddhā) — nicht aus Gier und nicht einem zornigen, unreinen Empfänger dargebracht — gelten für alle anderen Gaben wie Düfte, Blumengirlanden und dergleichen ebenso dieselben Vorschriften rechter Verehrung.

Word by Word

• śraddadhānaḥ: having faith / faithful
• śraddadhānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrad-dhā (श्रद्√धा धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ/कृत्), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); used as agent-qualifier

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, negation particle (निषेध)

• lobhena: by greed / out of greed
• lobhena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lobha (लोभ प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); hetu/means sense

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, negation

• caṇḍāya: to Caṇḍā (a fierce goddess/being)
• caṇḍāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caṇḍā (चण्डा प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• samarpitam: offered/dedicated
• samarpitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-arp (सम्√अर्प् धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative Singular; here as predicate/qualifier of offering (understood)

• gandha-mālya-ādi: fragrance, garlands, etc.
• gandha-mālya-ādi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha (गन्ध) + mālya (माल्य) + ādi (आदि अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāhāra-dvandva (समाहार-द्वन्द्व) with ādi; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative Singular (एकवचन)

• yat: whatever
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction

• anyat: other
• anyat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (अन्य प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative, Singular; qualifying implied 'dravyaṃ' etc.

• tatra: there/in that matter
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb of place (देशवाचक)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle (समुच्चय/अपि=also/even)

• eṣaḥ: this
• eṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (एतद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• samaḥ: same/equal
• samaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sama (सम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; predicate adjective of 'vidhiḥ'

• vidhiḥ: rule/procedure
• vidhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhi (विधि प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā teachings to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Aghoramūrti

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

FAQs

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

It teaches that the efficacy of worship depends on śraddhā (faith) and purity of intention, not on greed or coercive temperament—aligning devotion with dharma so grace may arise.

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

In Liṅga/Saguṇa worship, external offerings like flowers and perfumes are valid only when offered with a pure devotional attitude; the same ethical rule applies to every upacāra (service) rendered to Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Offer gandha and mālya with steady faith and non-greed, maintaining inner cleanliness and a calm mind; let the offering be accompanied by remembrance of Shiva (e.g., japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) rather than desire for gain.