Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 33

पुष्पार्पण-विनिर्णयः

Determination of Flower-Offerings to Śiva

Devanagari script

निर्गुण्डीकुसुमैर्लोके मनो निर्मलतां व्रजेत् । बिल्वपत्रैस्तथा लक्षैः सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात्

Transliteration

nirguṇḍīkusumairloke mano nirmalatāṃ vrajet | bilvapatraistathā lakṣaiḥ sarvānkāmānavāpnuyāt

Translation

En offrant des fleurs de nirguṇḍī en ce monde, l’esprit parvient à la pureté. De même, en offrant des feuilles de bilva—fût-ce en grand nombre—on obtient tous les buts désirés par la grâce de Śiva.

Word by Word

• nirguṇḍī-kusumaiḥ: with nirguṇḍī flowers
• nirguṇḍī-kusumaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nirguṇḍī (प्रातिपदिक) + kusuma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (kusuma), तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (निर्गुण्ड्याः कुसुमैः = with nirguṇḍī flowers)

• loke: in the world
• loke: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• manaḥ: the mind
• manaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• nirmalatām: purity/clarity
• nirmalatām: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nirmalatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/गति), एकवचन

• vrajet: should attain
• vrajet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vraj (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; 'should go/attain'

• bilva-patraiḥ: with bilva leaves
• bilva-patraiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bilva (प्रातिपदिक) + patra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (patra), तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (बिल्वस्य पत्रैः = with bilva leaves)

• tathā: also
• tathā: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक-अव्ययम् (also/likewise)

• lakṣaiḥ: by lakhs (in great numbers)
• lakṣaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; 'by lakhs (hundreds of thousands)'

• sarvān: all
• sarvān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying kāmān)

• kāmān: desires
• kāmān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन

• avāpnuyāt: should obtain
• avāpnuyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-√āp (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; 'should obtain'

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating Śiva-worship teachings to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya within the Rudrasaṃhitā context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse links outer pūjā to inner transformation: offering nirguṇḍī flowers symbolizes disciplined devotion that purifies the mind (nirmalatā), making the devotee fit for Śiva’s grace—central to Shaiva Siddhānta where grace ripens the soul toward liberation.

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

Bilva leaves are a classic upacāra in Śiva-liṅga worship; the teaching affirms saguna worship (with form and offerings) as a valid means to receive Śiva’s anugraha, which can grant worldly aims and, when oriented rightly, support the path to mokṣa.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Śiva-pūjā by offering nirguṇḍī flowers and bilva leaves with focused mind and devotion; pair the offering with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to emphasize inner purity rather than mere quantity.