Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 17

पूजाविधिः

Pūjā-vidhiḥ) — The Supreme Procedure of Worship (Morning Observances

Devanagari script

तर्पणं च ततः कार्यं देवर्षिपितृतृप्तिदम् । धौतवस्त्रं ततो धार्यं पुनराचमनं चरेत्

Transliteration

tarpaṇaṃ ca tataḥ kāryaṃ devarṣipitṛtṛptidam | dhautavastraṃ tato dhāryaṃ punarācamanaṃ caret

Translation

Then one should perform tarpaṇa, the water-offering that brings satisfaction to the gods, the divine seers, and the ancestors. Thereafter one should don freshly washed garments and again perform ācamana, the ritual sipping of water for purification.

Word by Word

• tarpaṇam: libation/oblation (tarpana)
• tarpaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tarpaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nominative/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/क्रमवाचक अव्यय (temporal/sequence adverb)

• kāryam: to be done/should be performed
• kāryam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kārya (कृ-धातु से, कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेयविशेषण (predicative adjective) ‘to be done’

• deva-ṛṣi-pitṛ-tṛpti-dam: giving satisfaction to gods, sages, and ancestors
• deva-ṛṣi-pitṛ-tṛpti-dam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक) + pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + tṛpti (प्रातिपदिक) + da (दा-धातु, कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative): ‘देवर्षिपितॄणां तृप्तिं ददाति’

• dhauta-vastram: washed garment/clean cloth
• dhauta-vastram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhauta (धाव्/धौ-धातु, कृदन्त past participle) + vastra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: ‘धौतं वस्त्रम्’ (washed cloth/garment)

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रमवाचक अव्यय (sequence adverb)

• dhāryam: to be worn/should be put on
• dhāryam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhārya (धृ-धातु, कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेयविशेषण: ‘धारयितव्यम्’ (to be worn/put on)

• punar: again
• punar: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरावृत्तिवाचक अव्यय (adverb of repetition)

• ācamanaṃ: sipping water (ācamana)
• ācamanaṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ācamana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेष्य (object of verb)

• caret: should do/should perform
• caret: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (चर्-धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Tarpaṇa integrates the practitioner into cosmic reciprocity—sustaining devas/ṛṣis/pitṛs—thereby stabilizing dharma and preparing the mind for Śiva’s worship.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shaiva worship begins with inner and outer purification—gratitude and offering (tarpaṇa) to cosmic powers and lineage (devas, ṛṣis, pitṛs), followed by renewed cleanliness (washed clothes and ācamana) so the mind becomes fit for Shiva-upāsanā.

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

Before approaching Saguna Shiva in the form of the Śiva-liṅga, the devotee establishes ritual purity and harmony with the divine order; these preparatory acts remove obstacles and make the subsequent liṅga-pūjā steady and respectful.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform tarpaṇa with water as prescribed, then wear clean washed clothing and repeat ācamana; this sequence functions as a disciplined purificatory practice immediately prior to japa or pūjā (such as Om Namaḥ Śivāya).