Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 28

अग्निकार्य-होमविधिः

Agnikārya and Homa Procedure

Devanagari script

अवक्रा न स्वयं शुष्कास्सत्वचो निर्व्रणाः समाः । दशांगुला वा विहिताः कनिष्ठांगुलिसंमिताः

Transliteration

avakrā na svayaṃ śuṣkāssatvaco nirvraṇāḥ samāḥ | daśāṃgulā vā vihitāḥ kaniṣṭhāṃgulisaṃmitāḥ

Translation

Ils ne doivent être ni courbés ni naturellement desséchés ; leur peau doit être intacte, sans blessure et d’une égale régularité. La mesure prescrite est de dix largeurs de doigt, comptées selon la largeur de l’auriculaire.

Word by Word

• अवक्राः: not bent/crooked
• अवक्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (not crooked)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle)

• स्वयम्: by itself
• स्वयम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, आत्मार्थक/स्वतः (reflexive adverb)

• शुष्काः: dry
• शुष्काः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुष्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• सत्वचः: with bark (not barkless)
• सत्वचः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + त्वच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय ‘सत्वचः’ = having bark/with skin; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• निर्व्रणाः: without wounds/blemishes
• निर्व्रणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्+व्रण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• समाः: even, uniform
• समाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• दशाङ्गुलाः: ten aṅgulas long
• दशाङ्गुलाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्गुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास ‘दश अङ्गुलाः’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विकल्पार्थक

• विहिताः: are prescribed
• विहिताः: Kriyā (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+धा (धातु) + क्त
• Form: क्तान्त कृदन्त (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘prescribed/ordained’

• कनिष्ठाङ्गुलिसंमिताः: measured by the little finger
• कनिष्ठाङ्गुलिसंमिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कनिष्ठा + अङ्गुलि + संमित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative) ‘कनिष्ठाङ्गुल्या संमिताः’ = measured by the little finger; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Tatpuruṣa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shaiva worship should be supported by sattvic orderliness—using items that are unbroken, unblemished, and properly measured—so the devotee’s mind mirrors that purity and steadiness while approaching Pati (Shiva).

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

In Linga/Saguna worship, correct and intact ritual materials express reverence and attentiveness; such careful observance helps stabilize devotion (bhakti) and concentration, making the offering fit to be presented to Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests selecting and preparing worship materials that are straight, not dried or damaged, and measured according to the stated standard—supporting disciplined puja, japa (including Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and focused meditation.