Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 16

अग्निकार्य-होमविधिः

Agnikārya and Homa Procedure

Devanagari script

नियोगः प्रदेश सर्वं कुंडं कुर्याद्विचक्षणः । स्वनाभ्यंतःस्थितं वह्निं तद्रंध्राद्विस्फुलिंगवद्

Transliteration

niyogaḥ pradeśa sarvaṃ kuṃḍaṃ kuryādvicakṣaṇaḥ | svanābhyaṃtaḥsthitaṃ vahniṃ tadraṃdhrādvisphuliṃgavad

Translation

An intelligent practitioner should, in the appointed place, prepare the entire fire-pit (kuṇḍa). Then, contemplating the inner fire stationed within one’s own navel, one should kindle it forth through that aperture, as though it were a spark leaping out.

Word by Word

• नियोगः: the instruction/assignment (rule)
• नियोगः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रदेशे: in the place/region
• प्रदेशे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रदेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• सर्वम्: entire/whole
• सर्वम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• कुण्डम्: fire-pit
• कुण्डम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• कुर्यात्: should make/construct
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• विचक्षणः: the discerning one (expert)
• विचक्षणः: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्वनाभ्यन्तःस्थितम्: situated within one’s navel
• स्वनाभ्यन्तःस्थितम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व-नाभि-अन्तः-स्थित (प्रातिपदिक); स्थित = स्था (धातु) क्त-प्रत्ययान्त
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

• वह्निम्: fire
• वह्निम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• तत्: from that
• तत्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• रन्ध्रात्: from the opening/aperture
• रन्ध्रात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रन्ध्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular)

• विस्फुलिङ्गवत्: like a spark
• विस्फुलिङ्गवत्: Upamana (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विस्फुलिङ्गवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), उपमानार्थक-तुल्यवाचक (comparative particle meaning 'like')

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Vāmadeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It links outer Shaiva ritual (preparing the kuṇḍa) with inner yoga: the worshipper is instructed to awaken the inner fire and let it manifest outward, showing that true worship of Pati (Shiva) must unite inner purification with external observance.

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

In Saguna worship, offerings into the fire-pit and worship of Shiva’s forms are effective when supported by inner concentration; the verse emphasizes that external rite becomes Shaiva sādhanā when powered by the awakened inner vahni and disciplined awareness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prepare the homa-kuṇḍa as prescribed, then practice navel-centered meditation (focusing on the inner fire at the nābhi) to ‘ignite’ the rite; this can be paired with Shaiva mantra-japa (such as the Panchakshara) to stabilize attention during worship.