Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 31

मन्त्रसिद्धिः, प्रतिबन्धनिरासः, श्रद्धा-नियमाः

Mantra Efficacy, Removal of Obstacles, and the Role of Faith/Discipline

Devanagari script

ततः कुशोदकाद्यानि स्वर्णरत्नोदकान्यपि । गंधपुष्पादिसिद्धानि मन्त्रसिद्धानि च क्रमात्

Transliteration

tataḥ kuśodakādyāni svarṇaratnodakānyapi | gaṃdhapuṣpādisiddhāni mantrasiddhāni ca kramāt

Translation

Daraufhin verwende man der rechten Reihenfolge nach Wasser, beginnend mit kuśa-durchtränktem Wasser, ebenso Wasser, das durch Gold und Edelsteine geheiligt ist – dazu solches, das durch Düfte, Blumen und dergleichen wirksam wurde, und solches, das durch Mantra vollendet ist.

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः: क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb)

• कुशोदक-आद्यानि: beginning with kuśa-water
• कुशोदक-आद्यानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुशोदक (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• स्वर्णरत्नोदकानि: waters (mixed) with gold and gems
• स्वर्णरत्नोदकानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + रत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः: निपात (particle)

• गन्धपुष्प-आदि-सिद्धानि: prepared/arranged with fragrance, flowers, etc.
• गन्धपुष्प-आदि-सिद्धानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + सिद्ध (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• मन्त्र-सिद्धानि: consecrated by mantra
• मन्त्र-सिद्धानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सिद्ध (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः: समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• क्रमात्: in due order/gradually
• क्रमात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभावः (instrumental used adverbially); पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणार्थे

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Sequential abhiṣeka-dravya listing: kuśa-water, gold/gem-infused water, fragrance/flower-consecrated water, and mantra-perfected water—indicating graded sanctification.

Significance: Layered sanctification symbolizes progressive purification of the paśu (soul) and refinement of offering-substance, culminating in mantra-siddhi as the decisive sacral power.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that outer offerings become spiritually potent when purified and consecrated—step by step—so the devotee’s intention and discipline align with Shiva (Pati), loosening bondage (pāśa) and elevating the soul (paśu) through ordered worship.

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

The verse points to abhiṣeka and upacāras for the Śiva-liṅga, where Saguna worship uses tangible substances (water, flowers, fragrance) that are made ‘siddha’ by mantra, expressing devotion while invoking Shiva’s grace through consecration.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests performing mantra-consecrated abhiṣeka in a proper sequence—using purified water (kuśa-water, then specially sanctified waters) while reciting Shiva mantras such as the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to ‘perfect’ the offering.