Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 63

पूजाविधिः

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

Devanagari script

कुशपुष्पैश्च धत्तूरैर्मंदारैर्द्रोणसंभवैः । तथा च तुलसीपत्रैर्बिल्वपत्रैर्विशेषतः

Transliteration

kuśapuṣpaiśca dhattūrairmaṃdārairdroṇasaṃbhavaiḥ | tathā ca tulasīpatrairbilvapatrairviśeṣataḥ

Translation

On doit adorer le Seigneur Śiva avec des fleurs de kuśa, des fleurs de dhattūra, des fleurs de mandāra et des fleurs nées de droṇa ; et aussi avec des feuilles de tulasī — mais, tout particulièrement, avec des feuilles de bilva.

Word by Word

• कुश-पुष्पैः: with kuśa-flowers
• कुश-पुष्पैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुश (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

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

• धत्तूरैः: with dhattūra (datura) flowers
• धत्तूरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धत्तूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• मन्दारैः: with mandāra flowers
• मन्दारैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्दार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• द्रोण-सम्भवैः: with those born from a droṇa (vessel/measure)
• द्रोण-सम्भवैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्रोण (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (सन्दर्भे पुष्पादिभिः); तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण—'arisen from droṇa (measure/vessel)'

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

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

• तुलसी-पत्रैः: with tulasī leaves
• तुलसी-पत्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुलसी (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• बिल्व-पत्रैः: with bilva leaves
• बिल्व-पत्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बिल्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तद्धितान्त-अव्यय (ablatival adverb) 'especially'

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating Śiva’s worship-method as taught in the Rudra Saṃhitā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: नमः शिवाय

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion becomes concrete through sacred offerings: specific flowers and leaves are prescribed as pure, sattvic supports for bhakti, with bilva leaves singled out as especially dear and efficacious for Śiva-pūjā.

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

The verse belongs to ritual instruction (pūjāvidhi) where Saguna Śiva is approached through the Liṅga using tangible upacāras—flowers and leaves—so the devotee’s mind becomes steady, reverent, and inwardly aligned with Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Offer bilva leaves (and other named flowers/leaves) in Liṅga-pūjā with mantra-japa—commonly the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as a simple daily or Mahāśivarātri practice of focused devotion.