Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 28

दक्षस्य रुद्रनिन्दा-निमित्तकथनम् / The Cause of Dakṣa’s Censure of Rudra

Devanagari script

काचित्तु सुमनोज्ञानि पुष्पाणि सुरभीणि च । काचिदाभरणाधारं बभार कमलेक्षणा

Transliteration

kācittu sumanojñāni puṣpāṇi surabhīṇi ca | kācidābharaṇādhāraṃ babhāra kamalekṣaṇā

Translation

Une dame aux yeux de lotus portait des fleurs délicieuses et parfumées ; une autre tenait un plateau sur support destiné aux parures et ornements.

Word by Word

• kācit: a certain (woman)
• kācit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक, सर्वनाम)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन); sarvanāma-prayoga (सर्वनाम)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha/Discourse marker (सम्बन्ध/निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta/particle (निपात)

• sumano-jñāni: pleasing to the mind
• sumano-jñāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sumano + jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter/नपुंसक), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन); viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• puṣpāṇi: flowers
• puṣpāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter/नपुंसक), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन)

• surabhīṇi: fragrant
• surabhīṇi: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: surabhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter/नपुंसक), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन); viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avayava/conjunction (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• kācit: another certain (woman)
• kācit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक, सर्वनाम)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन); sarvanāma-prayoga (सर्वनाम)

• ābharaṇa-ādhāram: a holder/stand for ornaments
• ābharaṇa-ādhāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ābharaṇa + ādhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• babhāra: carried/bore
• babhāra: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhṛ (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (लङ्, imperfect/past), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (एकवचन); parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• kamala-īkṣaṇā: the lotus-eyed (woman)
• kamala-īkṣaṇā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kamala + īkṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन); bahuvrīhi—‘kamalāni īkṣaṇāni yasyāḥ sā’ (whose eyes are like lotuses)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

FAQs

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

It highlights bhakti expressed as seva: devotees (or attendants) lovingly gather pleasing, fragrant flowers and items for adornment, showing that attentive preparation itself becomes an offering to Pati (Shiva) and supports inner purification.

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

Flowers and ornaments are classic upacāras of Saguna worship—external acts that steady the mind and turn the senses toward Shiva; in Linga-puja, such offerings symbolize surrender of beauty, fragrance, and attachment to the Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Shiva-puja with mindful upacāras—offer fragrant flowers with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), keeping the attention on devotion rather than display.