Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 45

पूजास्थानशुद्धिः पात्रशोधनं च — Purification of the Worship-Space and Preparation of Ritual Vessels

Devanagari script

असंभवे तु द्रव्याणां यथासंभवसंभृतैः । केवलैर्मंत्रतोयैर्वा स्नापयेच्छ्रद्धया शिवम्

Transliteration

asaṃbhave tu dravyāṇāṃ yathāsaṃbhavasaṃbhṛtaiḥ | kevalairmaṃtratoyairvā snāpayecchraddhayā śivam

Translation

Mais si les substances rituelles font défaut, qu’on emploie ce qu’il est possible de réunir ; ou même de l’eau seule sanctifiée par les mantras, et qu’avec foi l’on baigne Śiva.

Word by Word

• असम्भवे: in the non-availability
• असम्भवे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine) / नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) भाववाचक; सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन; ‘असम्भवे’ = ‘अभावे/अनुपलब्धौ’

• तु: however
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेष (particle: but/indeed)

• द्रव्याणाम्: of materials/substances
• द्रव्याणाम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन

• यथा-सम्भव-सम्भृतैः: with what has been procured as available
• यथा-सम्भव-सम्भृतैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यथा + सम्भव + सम्भृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण (द्रव्यैः/तोयैः इत्यर्थे); समासः—अव्ययीभाव (‘यथासम्भव’ = as possible) + तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-भाव (‘सम्भृत’ = collected/procured)

• केवलैः: only/merely
• केवलैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: केवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (मन्त्रतोयैः)

• मन्त्र-तोयैः: with mantra-consecrated water
• मन्त्र-तोयैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र + तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (मन्त्रेण संस्कृतानि तोयानि)

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्प (or)

• स्नापयेत्: should bathe (him/it)
• स्नापयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; णिच् (causative)

• श्रद्धया: with faith
• श्रद्धया: Hetu/Instrument (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Affirms accessibility: even without elaborate dravyas, mantra and śraddhā suffice—supporting inclusive worship for householders and the poor; emphasizes grace over material opulence.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: (implied) oṃ namaḥ śivāya

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva accepts devotion over display—when external offerings are limited, sincere śraddhā and mantra-consecrated worship still becomes spiritually efficacious and purifying.

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

It supports Liṅga-abhiṣeka as a valid Saguna practice even in simplicity: bathing the Liṅga with attainable items, or even mantra-sanctified water alone, is affirmed as proper worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform abhiṣeka using mantra-toya (water empowered by japa such as the Pañcākṣarī/“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), emphasizing inner faith; elaborate dravyas are optional when unavailable.