Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 66

पूजाविधिः

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

Devanagari script

अर्पणीयं च विविधं शिवाय परया मुदा । ततो धूपं प्रकर्तव्यो गुग्गुलागुरुभिर्मुदा

Transliteration

arpaṇīyaṃ ca vividhaṃ śivāya parayā mudā | tato dhūpaṃ prakartavyo guggulāgurubhirmudā

Translation

With supreme joy, one should offer diverse sacred offerings to Lord Śiva. Then, with devotion, incense (dhūpa) should be prepared and offered—made from guggulu resin and fragrant aguru—again in a spirit of gladness.

Word by Word

• arpaṇīyam: to be offered
• arpaṇīyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: arpaṇīya (arp-धातु/अर्प्, कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय/विधेयविशेषण: ‘अर्पयितव्यम्’ (to be offered)

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

• vividham: various
• vividham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘arpaṇīyam’/अर्पणद्रव्यं इत्यर्थे विशेषण

• śivāya: for Śiva
• śivāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन

• parayā: with supreme
• parayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘mudā’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• mudā: with joy
• mudā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mud (मुद्/मुदा, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

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

• dhūpam: incense
• dhūpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• prakartavyaḥ: should be prepared
• prakartavyaḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-kartavya (kṛ-धातु, कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; विधेयविशेषण: ‘प्रकर्तुं योग्यः/प्रकर्तव्यः’ (should be prepared/made)

• guggulu-agurubhiḥ: with guggulu and aguru
• guggulu-agurubhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guggulu (प्रातिपदिक) + aguru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (collective), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः: ‘गुग्गुलु च अगुरु च’

• mudā: with joy
• mudā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mudā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; पुनरुक्त-करण (repeated for emphasis)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating Śiva-pūjā procedure to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames pūjā as joyful self-offering (mudā) and specifies dhūpa materials (guggulu, aguru), aligning household ritual with temple standards while keeping the emphasis on devotion.

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva is approached through loving devotion (bhakti) expressed as joyful offering; the purity of intention—“supreme joy”—is central, not mere ritual form.

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

Incense (dhūpa) and offerings are core upacāras in Saguna worship of Śiva—especially in Liṅga-pūjā—where fragrance and smoke symbolize reverence, purification, and the devotee’s inner surrender offered to the Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform dhūpa-sevā in Śiva-pūjā by offering guggulu and aguru incense with focused mind and devotion; internally, cultivate glad remembrance of Śiva (often alongside japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”).