Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 35

पुष्पार्पण-विनिर्णयः

Determination of Flower-Offerings to Śiva

Devanagari script

राजिकाकुसुमानीह शत्रूणां मृत्युदानि च । एषां लक्षं शिवे दद्याद्दद्याच्च विपुलं फलम्

Transliteration

rājikākusumānīha śatrūṇāṃ mṛtyudāni ca | eṣāṃ lakṣaṃ śive dadyāddadyācca vipulaṃ phalam

Translation

Ici, l’on dit que les fleurs de rājikā (moutarde) donnent la mort aux ennemis. Si l’on en offre cent mille au Seigneur Śiva, Il accorde assurément un fruit surabondant.

Word by Word

• rājikā-kusumāni: mustard-flowers
• rājikā-kusumāni: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājikā + kusuma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (rājikāyāḥ kusumāni)

• iha: here/in this context
• iha: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक/locative adverb

• śatrūṇām: of enemies
• śatrūṇām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śatru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• mṛtyu-dāni: death-giving
• mṛtyu-dāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛtyu + dā (प्रातिपदिक; दा-धातु-आधारित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (mṛtyuṃ dadāti iti)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/coordination conjunction

• eṣām: of these
• eṣām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• lakṣam: a lakh (100,000)
• lakṣam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• śive: to Śiva
• śive: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन

• dadyāt: should offer/give
• dadyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• dadyāt: should give
• dadyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद (repetition for emphasis)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/coordination conjunction

• vipulam: abundant/great
• vipulam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vipula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (फलम्)

• phalam: fruit/result
• phalam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: destructive

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights phalaśruti—Śiva’s grace responding to disciplined devotion. The “abundant fruit” points to the principle that sustained, focused offering (lakṣa-puṣpārcana) purifies the devotee and draws protective, dharmic outcomes under Śiva’s lordship (Pati) over karma and destiny.

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

It implies saguna-upāsanā through concrete worship—offering specific flowers in large number to Śiva (commonly to the Śiva-liṅga). Through form-based worship, the devotee approaches the formless Lord, receiving both worldly safeguarding and inner steadiness that supports liberation-oriented practice.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A lakṣa (100,000) flower-offering to Śiva, ideally paired with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” maintaining purity, intention (saṅkalpa), and non-harming as a vow—seeking protection and Śiva’s anugraha (grace).