Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 28

लिङ्गपूजनसंक्षेपः

Concise Teaching on Liṅga Worship / Śiva-arcana-vidhi

Devanagari script

स्नानं तु विधिवत्कार्यं तीर्थादिषु क्रमेण तु । देशकालविशेषेण स्नानं कार्यं समंत्रकम्

Transliteration

snānaṃ tu vidhivatkāryaṃ tīrthādiṣu krameṇa tu | deśakālaviśeṣeṇa snānaṃ kāryaṃ samaṃtrakam

Translation

Le bain doit assurément être accompli selon la règle—aux tīrthas (gués sacrés) et dans les autres lieux prescrits, en suivant l’ordre requis. Selon les particularités du lieu et du temps, qu’on se baigne comme il convient, accompagné de mantras.

Word by Word

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय

• विधिवत्: according to the prescribed rule
• विधिवत्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverbial), 'according to rule'

• कार्यम्: to be done/should be done
• कार्यम्: विधेय (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कार्य (कृदन्त, अनियत-कर्तव्य/gerundive)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (यत्) कृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय (कर्तव्यता)

• तीर्थ-आदिषु: in pilgrimage places etc.
• तीर्थ-आदिषु: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (तीर्थं आदिः येषु); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण/Locative), बहुवचन

• क्रमेण: in due order
• क्रमेण: क्रियाविशेषण (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial instrumental)

• तु: and/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय

• देश-काल-विशेषेण: according to place-and-time distinctions
• देश-काल-विशेषेण: करण/हेतु (Instrument/Condition/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश (प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक) + विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (समाहार/निर्देश: देशस्य कालस्य च विशेषेण); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कार्यम्: should be done
• कार्यम्: विधेय (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कार्य (कृदन्त, कृत्य/gerundive)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (यत्) कृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय

• स-मन्त्रकम्: together with mantras
• स-मन्त्रकम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + मन्त्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (समन्त्रकम् = मन्त्रेण सह); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (स्नानम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the prescribed observances to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya, within the Rudra Saṃhitā framework)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Affirms tīrtha-snāna and mantra-snāna as purificatory supports for Śiva-bhakti; prepares the bound soul (paśu) for receptivity to grace (anugraha).

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

FAQs

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

It teaches that purification is not merely physical; when done with right method, right context (place and time), and mantra, bathing becomes a sanctifying saṃskāra that prepares the devotee for Shiva-worship and inner clarity.

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

Before approaching the Śiva-liṅga (Saguna Shiva worship), the devotee is instructed to become ritually fit through vidhivat snāna; mantra-linked purity supports proper upacāra and steadies devotion (bhakti) and reverence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform snāna in a prescribed manner—ideally at a tīrtha when possible—while reciting appropriate Śaiva mantras (commonly the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), aligning the practice with the specific place and time.