Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 51

मन्त्रसिद्धिः, प्रतिबन्धनिरासः, श्रद्धा-नियमाः

Mantra Efficacy, Removal of Obstacles, and the Role of Faith/Discipline

Devanagari script

कटुकीतुषसंयुक्तैः कार्पासास्थिभिरेव च । सर्षपैस्तैलसंमिश्रैर्जुहुयादाभिचारिके

Transliteration

kaṭukītuṣasaṃyuktaiḥ kārpāsāsthibhireva ca | sarṣapaistailasaṃmiśrairjuhuyādābhicārike

Translation

In ābhicāra rites (hostile sorcery), one should offer oblations into the fire using pungent husks together with cotton-seeds, and mustard seeds mixed with oil.

Word by Word

• kaṭukī-tuṣa-saṃyuktaiḥ: with (things) combined with kaṭukī and husk
• kaṭukī-tuṣa-saṃyuktaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kaṭukī (प्रातिपदिक) + tuṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃyukta (कृदन्त; सम्+युज् धातु)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); विशेषण—‘युक्त’ (endowed/combined)

• kārpāsa-asthibhiḥ: with cotton-seeds/bones of cotton (cotton kernels)
• kārpāsa-asthibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārpāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + asthi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात/Emphatic)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• sarṣapaiḥ: with mustard seeds
• sarṣapaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarṣapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• taila-saṃmiśraiḥ: mixed with oil
• taila-saṃmiśraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: taila (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃmiśra (कृदन्त/विशेषण; सम्+मिश्र् धातु)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); विशेषण—‘mixed’

• juhuyāt: should offer (into fire)
• juhuyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/Optative), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• ābhicārike: in the (rite) of abhichāra
• ābhicārike: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location-Context)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ābhicārika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); context: ‘in/for the abhichāra (malevolent rite)’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse classifies specific fire-offerings used in ābhicāra (coercive/hostile rites), implicitly contrasting such karmically binding acts with the Shaiva aim of purity (śuddhi) and liberation through devotion, mantra, and right intention.

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

While Shaiva worship of the Liṅga centers on śuddha-upacāra (pure offerings) and surrender to Saguna Shiva, this verse notes a separate, utilitarian ritual category (ābhicāra) that seeks worldly control—generally opposed to the devotional orientation that leads toward Shiva’s grace (anugraha).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A specific homa procedure is indicated: offering pungent husks/chaff, cotton-seeds, and mustard seeds mixed with oil into fire for ābhicāra purposes; for Shaiva sādhana aimed at upliftment, one would instead prioritize mantra-japa (e.g., Panchākṣarī) and sattvic worship.