Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 34

मन्त्रसिद्धिः, प्रतिबन्धनिरासः, श्रद्धा-नियमाः

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

Devanagari script

नीलोत्पलाद्युत्पलानि बिल्वपत्राण्यनेकशः । कमलानि च रक्तानि श्वेतान्यपि च शंभवे

Transliteration

nīlotpalādyutpalāni bilvapatrāṇyanekaśaḥ | kamalāni ca raktāni śvetānyapi ca śaṃbhave

Translation

Darzubringen sind blaue Lotosblüten und andere Lotosarten, viele Bilva-Blätter; ebenso rote und auch weiße Lotosblüten für Śambhu (Herrn Śiva).

Word by Word

• नील: blue
• नील: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nīla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग (member of compound), विशेषण (qualifier)

• उत्पल: lotus
• उत्पल: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: utpala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग (member of compound)

• आदि: etc.
• आदि: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), आद्यर्थे (meaning 'etc./and the like'), समासाङ्ग (member of compound)

• उत्पलानि: lotuses (blue lotuses etc.)
• उत्पलानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: utpala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (नीलोत्पल + आदि + उत्पल), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), बहुवचन (plural)

• बिल्व: bilva (bael)
• बिल्व: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bilva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग (member of compound)

• पत्राणि: leaves (bilva leaves)
• पत्राणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (बिल्वपत्र), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), बहुवचन (plural)

• अनेकशः: in many (numbers)/manyfold
• अनेकशः: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anekaśas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb), प्रकार/बहुत्वार्थ (in many ways / in many (numbers))

• कमलानि: lotuses
• कमलानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kamala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), बहुवचन (plural)

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• रक्तानि: red
• रक्तानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rakta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √rañj (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), बहुवचन (plural); विशेषण (qualifier of कमलानि)

• श्वेतानि: white
• श्वेतानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śveta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), बहुवचन (plural); विशेषण (qualifier of कमलानि)

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

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• शंभवे: for Śambhu (Śiva)
• शंभवे: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃbhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), चतुर्थी विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General liṅga-pūjā instruction: bilva and lotus offerings are singled out as especially dear to Śambhu; the verse functions as a dravya-nirdeśa (specification of materials).

Significance: Merit through offering bilva and lotuses: cultivation of bhakti and inner purity; in Siddhānta terms, it supports caryā/kriyā leading toward Śiva’s grace.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that loving devotion (bhakti) is concretely expressed through pure offerings—especially bilva leaves and lotus-flowers—made to Śambhu, the compassionate Lord who accepts sincere worship and elevates the devotee toward grace.

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

The verse supports Saguna Shiva worship by prescribing traditional upacāras (offerings) suitable for Linga-puja—flowers and bilva leaves—showing how the transcendent Pati is approached through a sanctified form and ritual devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Shiva-puja by offering bilva leaves and red/white/blue lotuses with reverence, ideally while repeating the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” keeping the mind steady in devotion.