Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 22

लिङ्गपूजनसंक्षेपः

Concise Teaching on Liṅga Worship / Śiva-arcana-vidhi

Devanagari script

दशवारं वामहस्ते सप्तवारं द्वयोस्तथा । प्रत्येकम्पादयोस्तात त्रिवारं करयोः पुनः

Transliteration

daśavāraṃ vāmahaste saptavāraṃ dvayostathā | pratyekampādayostāta trivāraṃ karayoḥ punaḥ

Translation

«Applique-le dix fois sur la main gauche, et sept fois sur les deux mains ensemble ; puis, ô bien-aimé, applique-le trois fois sur chaque pied, et de nouveau trois fois sur les mains.»

Word by Word

• daśa-vāram: ten times
• daśa-vāram: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: daśa (प्रातिपदिक संख्या) + vāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva samāsa (अव्ययीभाव) used adverbially: ‘daśa vāram’ = ten times; accusative-form adverb

• vāma-haste: on/in the left hand
• vāma-haste: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāma (प्रातिपदिक) + hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsa: karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) ‘vāmaḥ hastaḥ’; Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• sapta-vāram: seven times
• sapta-vāram: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sapta (प्रातिपदिक संख्या) + vāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva samāsa used adverbially: seven times

• dvayoḥ: of the two (hands)
• dvayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (genitive: ‘of the two’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvi (प्रातिपदिक संख्या)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/napuṃsaka, Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (genitive/षष्ठी), Dvivacana (dual/द्विवचन)

• tathā: likewise; similarly
• tathā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (prakāra/प्रकार)

• pratyekam: each; separately
• pratyekam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pratyeka (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक used adverbially)
• Form: Adverb (vyavasthā/व्‍यवस्‍था): ‘each, separately’

• pādayoḥ: of the two feet
• pādayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Dvivacana

• tāta: O dear one; O son
• tāta: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana vibhakti (vocative/सम्बोधन), Ekavacana

• tri-vāram: three times
• tri-vāram: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक संख्या) + vāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva samāsa used adverbially: three times

• karayoḥ: of the two hands
• karayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Dvivacana

• punaḥ: again; further
• punaḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (punarukti/पुनरुक्ति)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It prescribes a disciplined, counted application of a sacred substance (commonly understood as bhasma), emphasizing purity, steadiness, and reverent bodily sanctification as an aid to Shaiva devotion and inner orientation to Shiva.

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

In Linga/Saguna Shiva worship, external acts like bhasma application function as preparatory consecrations of the body and senses, aligning the worshipper with Shiva’s auspiciousness before mantra-japa and puja.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A counted, methodical application of sacred ash to hands and feet—typically done before puja and japa—supporting mindfulness, bodily purity, and readiness for Panchakshara-oriented Shaiva practice.