Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 69

पुष्पार्पण-विनिर्णयः

Determination of Flower-Offerings to Śiva

Devanagari script

रुद्रजाप्येन वा तत्र सूक्तेन् पौरुषेण वा । षडंगेनाथ वा तत्र महामृत्युंजयेन च

Transliteration

rudrajāpyena vā tatra sūkten pauruṣeṇa vā | ṣaḍaṃgenātha vā tatra mahāmṛtyuṃjayena ca

Translation

Là, on peut accomplir le culte par le japa des mantras de Rudra, ou par le Puruṣa Sūkta; ou encore, par les auxiliaires à six membres (ṣaḍaṅga), et aussi par le mantra Mahāmṛtyuñjaya.

Word by Word

• rudra-jāpyena: by Rudra-japa (repetition)
• rudra-jāpyena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक) + jāpya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); karaṇa (means)

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Vikalpa (विकल्प) disjunctive particle

• tatra: there/in that rite
• tatra: Deśādhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Deśa-avyaya (देशवाचक अव्यय), adverb

• sūktena: by a hymn
• sūktena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūkta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• pauruṣeṇa: Pauruṣa (Puruṣa-sūkta related)
• pauruṣeṇa: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pauruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); sūkta-viśeṣaṇa (qualifier)

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Vikalpa (विकल्प) disjunctive particle

• ṣaḍ-aṃgena: by the six-limbed (ṣaḍaṅga)
• ṣaḍ-aṃgena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaṭ (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीyā), Ekavacana (एकवचन); karaṇa (means)

• atha: then/also
• atha: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/भावबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Maṅgala/krama-nipāta (क्रमसूचक निपात)

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Vikalpa (विकल्प) disjunctive particle

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśādhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Deśa-avyaya (देशवाचक अव्यय), adverb

• mahā-mṛtyuṃ-jayena: by (the mantra) Mahāmṛtyuṃjaya
• mahā-mṛtyuṃ-jayena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + mṛtyuṃjaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); mantra-nāma (name of mantra/deity) used as instrument

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya (समुच्चय) conjunction

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Rudra Saṃhitā account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Enumerates alternative authoritative mantra-sources for the rite: Rudra-japa, Puruṣa Sūkta, ṣaḍaṅga auxiliaries, and Mahāmṛtyuñjaya—showing inclusivity of Vedic and Śaiva liturgical corpora.

Significance: Legitimizes multiple mantra-pathways for Śiva worship, allowing practitioners of different recensional/ritual lineages to perform abhiṣeka effectively.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: (Mahāmṛtyuñjaya is referenced, not quoted)

Type: mahamrityunjaya

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It affirms that Shiva-worship is valid through multiple orthodox mantra-paths—Rudra-japa, Vedic sūkta recitation, ṣaḍaṅga supports, and Mahāmṛtyuñjaya—showing that devotion (bhakti) and right means (upāya) can be adapted while keeping Shiva as the supreme Pati (Lord) who grants protection and liberation.

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

These recitations are standard mantra-approaches used to invoke and honor Saguna Shiva in worship—often in Liṅga-pūjā—where mantra, hymn, and auxiliary rites stabilize the mind and sanctify the offering so the devotee approaches Shiva with purity and focused awareness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of Rudra-mantras or the Mahāmṛtyuñjaya mantra, optionally supported by Vedic chanting like the Puruṣa Sūkta and ṣaḍaṅga (auxiliary) recitations as part of a disciplined daily pūjā or Mahāśivarātri observance.