Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 57

पूजाविधिः

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

Devanagari script

तथाभिलषितं द्रव्यमर्पयेच्छंकरोपरि । ततश्च वारुणं स्नानं करणीयं शिवाय वै

Transliteration

tathābhilaṣitaṃ dravyamarpayecchaṃkaropari | tataśca vāruṇaṃ snānaṃ karaṇīyaṃ śivāya vai

Translation

In the same manner, one should offer the desired materials upon Śaṅkara (Śiva). Thereafter, for the sake of Śiva, one should certainly perform the Varuṇa-bath (Varuṇa-snāna)—ritual purification with sanctified water.

Word by Word

• तथा: thus, in that manner
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb)

• अभिलषितम्: desired, wished-for
• अभिलषितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhilaṣita (कृदन्त; √लष्/लष्? अभिलष्)
• Form: भूतकृत्/कृतप्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle sense), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (agreeing with द्रव्यम्)

• द्रव्यम्: substance, offering material
• द्रव्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dravya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया) एकवचन

• अर्पयेत्: should offer
• अर्पयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अर्प् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• शंकर-उपरि: upon (the liṅga/seat) of Śaṅkara
• शंकर-उपरि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śaṅkara (प्रातिपदिक) + upari (अव्यय)
• Form: उपरि—अव्यय (postposition/adverb) with षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध implied; शंकर (masc.) in सम्बन्ध (genitive sense)

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb)

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

• वारुणम्: pertaining to Varuṇa; water-related
• वारुणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāruṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (agreeing with स्नानम्)

• स्नानम्: bath, ablution
• स्नानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd) एकवचन

• करणीयम्: to be done, should be performed
• करणीयम्: Vidhi (विधेय/आज्ञा)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karaṇīya (कृदन्त; √कृ धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्/अनीयर्-अर्थक कृदन्त (gerundive: ‘to be done’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (agreeing with स्नानम्)

• शिवाय: for Śiva
• शिवाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी) एकवचन (dative)

• वै: indeed, certainly
• वै: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/emphatic)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The ‘vāruṇa-snānā’ (water-rite) is a general purification act invoking the sanctifying principle of waters (Varuṇa as āpaḥ-devatā) before/within Śiva worship; not a localized sthala narrative.

Significance: Emphasizes śuddhi (purity) as a support for bhakti; water-rites symbolize washing away pāśa (impurity/bondage) so the paśu may become fit for Śiva’s grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Varuna

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion is expressed through proper offering (arpana) and inner-outer purity; sanctified water and bathing symbolize cleansing the pasha (bondage/impurity) so the devotee may approach Pati (Śiva) with a purified mind.

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

Offering desired substances ‘upon Śaṅkara’ aligns with saguna upāsanā—serving Śiva through the Liṅga via materials and abhiṣeka; the Varuṇa-related water rite supports Liṅga worship where water is a primary purifier and sacred medium.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform water-based purification (vāruṇa snāna) after offerings—practically, a ritual bath or ablution with sanctified water, ideally accompanied by Śiva-mantra japa such as the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).