Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 24

पूजाविधिः

Pūjā-vidhiḥ) — The Supreme Procedure of Worship (Morning Observances

Devanagari script

अन्नोदकं तथा तत्र शिवपूजार्थमाहरेत् । अन्यद्वस्तु च यत्किंचिद्यथाशक्ति समीपगम्

Transliteration

annodakaṃ tathā tatra śivapūjārthamāharet | anyadvastu ca yatkiṃcidyathāśakti samīpagam

Translation

Là, on doit apporter nourriture et eau pour le culte de Śiva ; et tout autre objet disponible à proximité, selon ses moyens, doit aussi être offert pour Son adoration.

Word by Word

• अन्न-उदकम्: food and water
• अन्न-उदकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anna (प्रातिपदिक) + udaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (अन्नं च उदकं च); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (collective)

• तथा: also, likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (locative adverb)

• शिव-पूजा-अर्थम्: for the purpose of Śiva-worship
• शिव-पूजा-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + pūjā (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (शिवस्य पूजा—तस्य अर्थम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणार्थे (purpose accusative)

• आहरेत्: should bring
• आहरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आ-उपसर्ग

• अन्यत्: other
• अन्यत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (agreeing with वस्तु)

• वस्तु: thing, item
• वस्तु: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vastu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• यत्: whatever
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (correlative with किंचित्)

• किंचित्: anything, something
• किंचित्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kiṃcit (सर्वनाम/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: सर्वनाम-प्रयोग, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (indefinite ‘something’)

• यथा-शक्ति: according to one’s ability
• यथा-शक्ति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (adverb)

• समीप-गम्: brought near, at hand
• समीप-गम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samīpa (प्रातिपदिक) + gam (कृदन्त; √गम्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (समीपं गतम्); भूतकृत् (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (agreeing with वस्तु/किंचित्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: This procedural verse is generic (vidhi) and not tied to a specific Jyotirliṅga-sthala; it frames Śiva-pūjā as accessible through simple offerings (anna, udaka) according to capacity (yathāśakti).

Significance: Emphasizes that bhakti and right intention sanctify even minimal offerings; supports the Siddhāntic stress on kriyā (ritual action) as a means for the bound soul (paśu) to approach Pati and receive purifying grace.

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva accepts worship offered with sincerity and within one’s means—simple essentials like water and food, along with any nearby items—so devotion (bhakti) and right intention matter more than luxury.

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

It supports Saguna worship through practical upacāras (offerings) to Śiva, commonly to the Śiva-liṅga, emphasizing that even minimal, accessible offerings are valid when made in reverence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple Śiva-pūjā: bring water (for abhiṣeka) and food (as naivedya), and offer whatever is available according to capacity—ideally accompanied by mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”