Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 62

पूजाविधिः

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

Devanagari script

प्रतिवक्त्रं यथाध्यानं यथायोग्याभिलाषतः । कमलैश्शतपत्रैश्च शंखपुष्पैः परैस्तथा

Transliteration

prativaktraṃ yathādhyānaṃ yathāyogyābhilāṣataḥ | kamalaiśśatapatraiśca śaṃkhapuṣpaiḥ paraistathā

Translation

Selon la contemplation prescrite pour chaque visage, et selon la juste capacité et l’élan du cœur, qu’on offre des lotus, des fleurs à cent pétales, des fleurs semblables à la conque sacrée (śaṅkha), ainsi que d’autres fleurs d’excellence.

Word by Word

• प्रति-वक्त्रम्: towards each face / for each face
• प्रति-वक्त्रम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय) + वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययत्वात् अविकारी; अर्थः—प्रत्येकं वक्त्रं प्रति (adverbial: 'towards/for each face')

• यथा-ध्यानम्: according to (one's) meditation
• यथा-ध्यानम्: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययत्वात् अविकारी; अर्थः—यथाध्यानम् (adverbial) 'according to meditation'

• यथा-योग्य-अभिलाषतः: according to appropriate desire
• यथा-योग्य-अभिलाषतः: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + योग्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिलाष (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; '...तः' = तद्धितान्त-अव्यय (ablatival adverb) ; अर्थः—यथायोग्याभिलाषतः 'as per suitable desire/according to appropriate wish'

• कमलैः: with lotuses
• कमलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• शत-पत्रैः: with hundred-petalled (lotuses)
• शत-पत्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (संख्यापूर्वपद); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• शङ्ख-पुष्पैः: with conch-flowers
• शङ्ख-पुष्पैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/उपमान-निबद्ध अर्थः: 'conch-like'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• परैः: with other (flowers)
• परैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (सन्दर्भे पुष्पैः सह); तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva-puja is not mere external offering: offerings become spiritually effective when matched with correct contemplation (dhyāna) and sincere, appropriate intention, aligning the devotee (paśu) toward the Lord (Pati).

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

It supports Saguna worship through tangible offerings like flowers while insisting on corresponding dhyāna—so Linga-puja is both outer upacāra and inner recollection of Shiva’s aspects, making devotion a means of purification and grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform dhyāna suited to the deity’s aspect being worshiped, then offer pure flowers (lotus, white conch-like blossoms, etc.) with disciplined intention; this complements mantra-japa (such as the Panchākṣarī) even when not explicitly stated in the verse.