Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 13

मन्त्रसिद्धिः, प्रतिबन्धनिरासः, श्रद्धा-नियमाः

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

Devanagari script

आलिप्य शकृता १ भूमिं हस्तमानावरां यथा । विलिखेत्कमले भद्रे दीप्यमानं स्वतेजसा

Transliteration

ālipya śakṛtā 1 bhūmiṃ hastamānāvarāṃ yathā | vilikhetkamale bhadre dīpyamānaṃ svatejasā

Translation

Tras untar el suelo con estiércol de vaca, oh auspiciosa Kamalā, debe dibujar allí un loto de la medida de una mano, resplandeciente con su propio fulgor.

Word by Word

• आलिप्य: having smeared
• आलिप्य: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-लिप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• शकृता: with dung (cow-dung)
• शकृता: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शकृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• भूमिम्: the ground
• भूमिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• हस्त-माना-अवराम्: slightly less than a hand-span in measure
• हस्त-माना-अवराम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक) + मान (प्रातिपदिक) + अवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (परिमाणवाचक: ‘हस्तमाना’ = one-hand measure; ‘अवरा’ = less/shorter)

• यथा: as, in the manner that
• यथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (comparative/manner adverb)

• विलिखेत्: should draw/inscribe
• विलिखेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-लिख् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कमले: in/on a lotus (design)
• कमले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• भद्रे: auspicious, excellent
• भद्रे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying कमले)

• दीप्यमानम्: shining, radiant
• दीप्यमानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीप् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ/शानच्-वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle, Ātmanepada sense), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of what is drawn)

• स्व-तेजसा: with its/one's own brilliance
• स्व-तेजसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘स्वस्य तेजसा’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Ritual maṇḍala/lotus-drawing is a portable ‘micro-kṣetra’ practice usable in any Śiva worship setting; it sacralizes space for invoking Śiva’s presence.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Lalitā

Role: creative

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shaiva worship begins with śauca (purity): preparing a sanctified space supports steadiness of mind, so devotion can turn from the outer act to Shiva as Pati, the luminous inner Lord.

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

The lotus diagram is a consecrated base for Saguna worship—an orderly, pure seat for the Linga or Shiva’s symbol—so the devotee approaches the manifest form with reverence while remembering Shiva’s self-effulgent nature.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prepare the worship-ground by smearing with cow-dung and draw a hand-measured lotus (maṇḍala) as an altar-seat; then continue with Shaiva puja such as offering, japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and inward contemplation.