Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 1

पुष्पार्पण-विनिर्णयः

Determination of Flower-Offerings to Śiva

Devanagari script

ऋषय ऊचुः । व्यासशिष्य महाभाग कथय त्वं प्रमाणतः । कैः पुष्पैः पूजितश्शंभुः किं किं यच्छति वै फलम्

Transliteration

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | vyāsaśiṣya mahābhāga kathaya tvaṃ pramāṇataḥ | kaiḥ puṣpaiḥ pūjitaśśaṃbhuḥ kiṃ kiṃ yacchati vai phalam

Translation

Les ṛṣi dirent : «Ô noble disciple de Vyāsa, expose-nous, avec l’autorité des Écritures : par quelles fleurs Śambhu est-il adoré, et quels fruits particuliers accorde-t-Il véritablement ?»

Word by Word

• ऋषयः: the sages
• ऋषयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ऊचुः: said
• ऊचुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• व्यासशिष्य: O disciple of Vyāsa
• व्यासशिष्य: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास + शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/8th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (व्यासस्य शिष्यः)

• महाभाग: O fortunate one
• महाभाग: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् भागः यस्य/महाभागः)

• कथय: tell
• कथय: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रमाणतः: authoritatively, with proof
• प्रमाणतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb)

• कैः: with which
• कैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• पुष्पैः: with flowers
• पुष्पैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• पूजितः: worshipped
• पूजितः: Kriyā (क्रिया/भाव)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शम्भुः: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• किम्: what (all)
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (emphatic repetition)

• यच्छति: gives
• यच्छति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यम्/यच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle of assurance)

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

The sages (ṛṣayaḥ), addressing Sūta Gosvāmin (disciple of Vyāsa)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Suta Goswami
• Vyasa

FAQs

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

It frames Śiva-bhakti as a precise, faith-filled practice grounded in pramāṇa (scriptural authority), asking how specific offerings become specific channels for Śiva’s grace and merit.

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

By asking about flowers used in pūjā, the verse points to Saguna worship—approaching Śiva through tangible offerings (often to the Śiva-liṅga) while seeking the fruits that ultimately mature into inner purification and devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests disciplined Śiva-pūjā with flower offerings accompanied by reverence and scripturally guided intent—typically supported by mantra-japa (such as the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) during worship.