Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 57

पुष्पार्पण-विनिर्णयः

Determination of Flower-Offerings to Śiva

Devanagari script

वृता गौश्च प्रदातव्या बलीवर्दस्तथैव च । मरीचिसंभवा पूजा शत्रोर्नाशकरी स्मृता

Transliteration

vṛtā gauśca pradātavyā balīvardastathaiva ca | marīcisaṃbhavā pūjā śatrornāśakarī smṛtā

Translation

Qu’on fasse don d’une vache dûment parée et reçue selon le rite, et de même d’un taureau. La pūjā accomplie avec des offrandes nées de « marīci » (rayons de lumière)—c’est-à-dire des substances pures et sāttviques telles que le ghee pour les actes sacrés—est tenue pour celle qui détruit l’ennemi (obstacles intérieurs et extérieurs).

Word by Word

• वृता: chosen/selected
• वृता: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (chosen/selected)

• गौः: a cow
• गौः: कर्म (Object implied with प्रदातव्या)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तृ/विशेष्य

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• प्रदातव्या: should be given
• प्रदातव्या: विधेय (Obligation predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-दा (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (तव्यत्-प्रत्यय, gerundive/future passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (to be given)

• बलीवर्दः: a bull/ox
• बलीवर्दः: कर्म (Object implied with प्रदातव्यः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलीवर्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तृ/विशेष्य

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (in the same way)

• एव: indeed
• एव: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• मरीचिसंभवा: arising from marīci (rays/Marīci)
• मरीचिसंभवा: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मरीचि + संभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (मरीचेः संभवः) विशेषणम् पूजायाः

• पूजा: worship
• पूजा: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तृ/विशेष्य

• शत्रोः: of the enemy
• शत्रोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध

• नाशकरी: destroying (bringing ruin)
• नाशकरी: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाशकरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (नाशं करोति इति) विशेषणम् पूजायाः

• स्मृता: is said/considered
• स्मृता: कर्मणि विधेय (Predicate: is said)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि (is considered/remembered)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Shiva Purana teachings to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that sattvic charity (dāna) and pure worship strengthen dharma and remove “enemies” understood also as inner obstacles—ego, anger, fear, and karmic impediments—so the seeker can progress toward Shiva’s grace and liberation.

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

In Saguna Shiva worship, offering pure substances (especially ghee and other sattvic items) and supporting dharma through dāna are considered direct aids to Linga-pūjā, because they purify the mind (citta-śuddhi) and make devotion steady and effective.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Shiva-pūjā with clean, sattvic offerings (notably ghee for lamp/oblation) and accompany it with dāna according to capacity; mentally interpret “enemy” as inner vices and pray for their dissolution while repeating Shiva’s name (e.g., the Panchākṣarī, Om Namaḥ Śivāya).