Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 64

पूजाविधिः

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

Devanagari script

पूजयेत्परया भक्त्या शंकरं भक्तवत्सलम् । सर्वाभावे बिल्वपत्रमपर्णीयं शिवाय वै

Transliteration

pūjayetparayā bhaktyā śaṃkaraṃ bhaktavatsalam | sarvābhāve bilvapatramaparṇīyaṃ śivāya vai

Translation

Qu’on adore Śaṅkara, si tendre envers ses dévots, avec la dévotion la plus haute. Même lorsque tout le reste manque, qu’on offre à Śiva des feuilles de bilva (sans trous).

Word by Word

• pūjayet: should worship
• pūjayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (पूज्-धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• parayā: with supreme
• parayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘bhaktyā’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• bhaktyā: devotion
• bhaktyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• śaṃkaram: Śaṅkara (Shiva)
• śaṃkaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• bhakta-vatsalam: affectionate to devotees
• bhakta-vatsalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhakta (प्रातिपदिक) + vatsala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘śaṃkaram’ इत्यस्य विशेषण; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘भक्तानां वत्सलः’ (affectionate to devotees)

• sarva-abhāve: in the absence of everything (else)
• sarva-abhāve: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + abhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘सर्वस्य अभावे’ (in total absence/when nothing else is available)

• bilva-patram: bilva leaf
• bilva-patram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bilva (प्रातिपदिक) + patra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘बिल्वस्य पत्रम्’

• aparṇīyam: (as) ‘aparṇīya’ (special/leaf-related offering)
• aparṇīyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aparṇīya (a- + parṇa, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘bilva-patram’ इत्यस्य विशेषण; नञ्-समासान्त विशेषण: ‘पर्णरहितम्/एकपर्णम्’ (interpreted as ‘leafless/without other leaves’; traditional reading varies)

• śivāya: for Śiva
• śivāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक अव्यय (particle of emphasis/indeed)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes that even minimal upacāra (a single bilva leaf) offered with parā-bhakti is accepted by Śiva; emphasizes accessibility of Śiva-pūjā beyond material constraints.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shankara

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva is bhaktavatsala—moved primarily by sincere devotion—so even a simple offering like a bilva leaf, given with wholehearted bhakti, becomes spiritually potent and grace-bestowing.

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

The verse supports Saguna upāsanā through tangible worship (such as offering bilva leaves to the Śiva-liṅga), emphasizing that the material simplicity of the rite is secondary to the inner devotion that connects the devotee to Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform simple Śiva-pūjā by offering a clean, unbroken bilva leaf with focused devotion; accompany it with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as a minimal yet complete practice when other items are unavailable.