Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 17

पूजाविधान-व्याख्या (Pūjāvidhāna-vyākhyā) — Exposition of the Procedure of Worship

Devanagari script

सर्वोपचारवद्भक्त्या भावपुष्पैस्समर्चयेत् । अथवा परिकल्प्यैवं मूर्तिमन्यतमां विभोः

Transliteration

sarvopacāravadbhaktyā bhāvapuṣpaissamarcayet | athavā parikalpyaivaṃ mūrtimanyatamāṃ vibhoḥ

Translation

Avec dévotion, comme si l’on offrait tous les services rituels, qu’on l’adore en l’ornant des « fleurs » de la vénération intérieure. Ou bien, après avoir ainsi conçu sa présence, qu’on adore le Seigneur qui pénètre tout, sous la forme que l’on choisit.

Word by Word

• sarva-upacāra-vat: with all (proper) offerings/attendances
• sarva-upacāra-vat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + upacāra (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (तद्धित)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुष (sarvaiḥ upacāraiḥ yuktam); अव्ययवत्-प्रयोगः (adverbial sense)

• bhaktyā: with devotion
• bhaktyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन (instrumental)

• bhāva-puṣpaiḥ: with flowers of feeling (mental offerings)
• bhāva-puṣpaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāva (प्रातिपदिक) + puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुष (bhāvasya puṣpāṇi); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• samarcayet: should worship
• samarcayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+√arc (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• athavā: or else
• athavā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: athavā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction: 'or else')

• parikalpya: having conceived/arranged
• parikalpya: Kriyā (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari+√kḷp (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; 'having imagined/arranged'

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: 'thus')

• mūrtim: a form/image
• mūrtim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• anyatamām: any one (whichever)
• anyatamām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anyatama (प्रातिपदिक; superlative/indefinite 'one of many')
• Form: विशेषण; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (mūrtim इति विशेष्ये)

• vibhoḥ: of the Lord
• vibhoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन (genitive)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that the essence of Śiva-worship is bhakti: even without external materials, the devotee can offer ‘flowers’ of pure inner feeling and thereby perform complete worship, turning the mind into a sanctified shrine of Pati (Śiva).

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

The verse supports saguna-upāsanā: Śiva may be approached through any chosen mūrti, including the Śiva-liṅga, because the all-pervading Lord accepts worship offered with sincere devotion, whether through form (liṅga/mūrti) or through inward visualization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to mānasa-pūjā and dhyāna—mentally offering all upacāras (services) and worshipping Śiva through visualization; the practical takeaway is to perform heartfelt inner worship alongside (or in place of) external ritual.