Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 44

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

शर्करामधुकर्पूरकपिलाघृतसंयुतम् । चंदनागुरुकाष्ठाद्यं सामान्यं संप्रचक्षते

Transliteration

śarkarāmadhukarpūrakapilāghṛtasaṃyutam | caṃdanāgurukāṣṭhādyaṃ sāmānyaṃ saṃpracakṣate

Translation

Ce mélange uni au sucre, au miel, au camphre et au ghee fauve (kapilā), avec le santal, le bois d’agaru, les bois parfumés et autres, est déclaré être l’offrande « commune » (standard).

Word by Word

• शर्करा-मधु-कर्पूर-कपिला-घृत-संयुतम्: combined with sugar, honey, camphor, kapilā and ghee
• शर्करा-मधु-कर्पूर-कपिला-घृत-संयुतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शर्करा (प्रातिपदिक) + मधु (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्पूर (प्रातिपदिक) + कपिला (प्रातिपदिक) + घृत (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुत (कृदन्त, प्रातिपदिक) < सम्-युज् (धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative/Nominative Singular); बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (सह/युक्तार्थ): ‘(with) sugar, honey, camphor, kapilā, ghee’ युक्तम्; विशेषणम् of ‘सामान्यम्’

• चन्दन-अगुरु-काष्ठ-आद्यम्: including sandalwood, agaru, wood, etc.
• चन्दन-अगुरु-काष्ठ-आद्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक) + अगुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + काष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative/Nominative Singular); तत्पुरुष (समाहार/आदि-अर्थ): ‘beginning with sandalwood, agaru, wood etc.’; विशेषणम् of ‘सामान्यम्’

• सामान्यम्: the common (mixture)/general offering
• सामान्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामान्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative/Nominative Singular)

• संप्रचक्षते: they call/describe
• संप्रचक्षते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-प्र-चक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present Indicative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन (3rd person plural); ‘they call/declare’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Defines the ‘sāmānya’ (standard) upacāra mixture used in Śiva-pūjā; regular, rule-based offering purifies the paśu and supports eligibility for higher mantra and anugraha.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines a “standard” auspicious offering made of pure, fragrant, sattvic substances—symbolizing inner purity and heartfelt devotion offered to Pati (Shiva), which supports the devotee’s movement from pasha (bondage) toward grace.

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

These substances are typical upacharas used in Saguna worship of the Shiva-Linga—cooling (sandalwood), purifying (camphor), nourishing (ghee, honey) and sweetening (sugar)—expressing reverence through tangible, sanctified offerings.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prepare a clean, fragrant mixture for Shiva-puja and offer it with mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), maintaining purity, steadiness, and devotion during abhisheka/upachara.