Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 68

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

कुर्यात्त्रिषवणस्नानं भस्मस्नानमथापि वा । पूजां वैशेषिकीं चैव मनसा वचसा गिरा

Transliteration

kuryāttriṣavaṇasnānaṃ bhasmasnānamathāpi vā | pūjāṃ vaiśeṣikīṃ caiva manasā vacasā girā

Translation

Qu’on accomplisse les ablutions des trois moments quotidiens (aux trois sandhyās), ou bien qu’on se baigne avec la cendre sacrée (bhasma). Qu’on offre aussi le culte particulier—par la pensée, par la parole et par les mots proférés—en consacrant à Śiva toutes les facultés, intérieures et extérieures.

Word by Word

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — should do/perform

• त्रि: three
• त्रि: Qualifier (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, समासपूर्वपद — numeral, compound member

• सवण: (daily) time/period (of rite)
• सवण: Qualifier (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, समासपूर्वपद — neuter, compound member

• स्नानम्: three-times bath
• स्नानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन — neuter, accusative singular; द्विगु: त्रि-सवण-स्नानम् = 'bath at the three savanas'

• भस्म: sacred ash
• भस्म: Qualifier (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन्/भस्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, समासपूर्वपद — neuter, compound member

• स्नानम्: ash-bath
• स्नानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन — neuter, accusative singular; तत्पुरुष: भस्म-स्नानम् = 'bath with ash'

• अथ: then/also
• अथ: Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरबोधक-अव्यय (particle: 'then/also')

• अपि: also
• अपि: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपेक्षाबोधक-अव्यय (particle: 'also/even')

• वा: or
• वा: Connector (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पबोधक-अव्यय (disjunctive: 'or')

• पूजाम्: worship
• पूजाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन — feminine, accusative singular

• वैशेषिकीम्: special/particular (worship)
• वैशेषिकीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैशेषिकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन — feminine, accusative singular; qualifies पूजाम्

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Adverbial (निश्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणबोधक-अव्यय (particle: emphasis)

• मनसा: by mind
• मनसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन — neuter, instrumental singular

• वचसा: by words
• वचसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन — neuter, instrumental singular

• गिरा: by speech
• गिरा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिर्/गीर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन — feminine, instrumental singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Ritual regimen (triṣavaṇa-snāna, bhasma-snāna, vaiśeṣikī pūjā) rather than a localized liṅga legend; it outlines daily Śaiva caryā and kriyā.

Significance: Establishes daily rhythm of purification and worship; tri-sandhyā discipline is treated as sustaining Śiva-sambandha and inner steadiness.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva-worship is fulfilled when purity and devotion are practiced consistently—through daily discipline (three sandhyā baths) and through inner dedication, offering mind and speech to the Lord as Pati (the liberator).

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

The verse supports Saguna upāsanā through concrete observances—snāna, bhasma-dhāraṇa, and prescribed pūjā—preparing the devotee to worship the Śiva-liṅga with reverence while gradually maturing toward deeper realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice tri-sandhyā snāna (three daily ablutions) or bhasma-snāna/bhasma-dhāraṇa (sacred ash observance), and perform pūjā with mental worship plus spoken recitation—ideally with Śiva-mantras such as the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”).