Shloka 38

Dāruvana-parīkṣā: Śaṅkara’s Test and the Linga’s Ritual-Theological Grounding

Devanagari script

सुगन्धैश्चन्दनैश्चैव पुष्पधूपादिभिस्तथा । नैवेद्यादिकपूजाभिस्तोषयेत्परमेश्वरम्

Transliteration

sugandhaiścandanaiścaiva puṣpadhūpādibhistathā | naivedyādikapūjābhistoṣayetparameśvaram

Translation

With fragrant substances and sandal paste, likewise with flowers, incense, and such offerings, and with worship that includes naivedya (food-offerings) and the like—one should gladden Parameśvara, Lord Śiva.

Word by Word

• सुगन्धैः: with fragrances
• सुगन्धैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुगन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• चन्दनैः: with sandalwood
• चन्दनैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

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

• पुष्प-धूप-आदिभिः: with flowers, incense, etc.
• पुष्प-धूप-आदिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + धूप (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘आदि’ सहित समाहार/समुच्चयार्थ

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार-अव्यय (adverb: ‘likewise’)

• नैवेद्य-आदि-पूजाभिः: with worship involving offerings etc.
• नैवेद्य-आदि-पूजाभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैवेद्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘नैवेद्यादि’ = नैवेद्य-प्रभृति (etc.)

• तोषयेत्: should please/satisfy
• तोषयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तुष् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• परम-ईश्वरम्: the Supreme Lord
• परम-ईश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Purana teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Standard upacāra-pūjā (fragrance, sandal, flowers, incense, naivedya) cultivates devotion and steadiness; pleasing Parameśvara is framed as sustaining auspicious order in the devotee’s life.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva, the Pati (Supreme Lord), is approached through loving upacāras—fragrance, sandal, flowers, incense, and offerings—so devotion becomes tangible and the mind becomes purified and steady in bhakti.

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

These are classic Linga-upacāras used in Saguna worship: gandha (sandal), puṣpa (flowers), dhūpa (incense), and naivedya. By honoring Śiva in a form accessible to the senses, the devotee’s awareness is gradually led toward His supreme, transcendent reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform a simple Śiva-pūjā to the Linga with gandha, puṣpa, dhūpa, and naivedya, while maintaining inward reverence—ideally supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to unite outer offering with inner meditation.