Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 29

अग्निकार्य-होमविधिः

Agnikārya and Homa Procedure

Devanagari script

प्रादेशमात्रा वालाभे होतव्याः सकला अपि । दूर्वापत्रसमाकारां चतुरंगुलमायताम्

Transliteration

prādeśamātrā vālābhe hotavyāḥ sakalā api | dūrvāpatrasamākārāṃ caturaṃgulamāyatām

Translation

Tous doivent être offerts à la mesure d’une empan, ayant la forme d’une feuille d’herbe dūrvā, et s’étendant sur quatre largeurs de doigt.

Word by Word

• प्रादेशमात्राः: of span-length measure
• प्रादेशमात्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रादेश (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष ‘प्रादेशस्य मात्रा’ = of the measure of a span; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of the items implied)

• वालाभे: in obtaining/using (the) tail-hair/valābha (contextual technical term)
• वालाभे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वालाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• होतव्याः: should be offered
• होतव्याः: Kriyā (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु) + तव्यत् (तव्यत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त (Gerundive/Obligative), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘to be offered (in oblation)’

• सकलाः: all, entire
• सकलाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक (also)

• दूर्वापत्रसमाकाराम्: having the form of a dūrvā leaf
• दूर्वापत्रसमाकाराम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दूर्वा + पत्र + समाकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative) ‘दूर्वायाः पत्रस्य समाकारः’ = having the shape like a dūrvā leaf; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of an implied feminine noun, e.g., समिध्/दण्डिका)

• चतुरङ्गुलमायताम्: four aṅgulas long
• चतुरङ्गुलमायताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या) + अङ्गुल (प्रातिपदिक) + आयत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative) ‘चतुरङ्गुलं आयतं यस्याः सा’ (length of four aṅgulas); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (same implied noun as previous)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Vāmadeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined, reverent worship—outer precision in offerings reflects inner steadiness and devotion toward Pati (Shiva), aligning the worshipper’s mind with sacred order.

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

It gives practical guidance for Saguna worship of Shiva through the Linga, where properly prepared offerings become a focused means to approach Shiva with bhakti and purity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Follow the prescribed measurements and shapes of offerings during Shiva Puja; this supports attentive mantra-japa (such as the Panchakshara) by reducing ritual distraction and strengthening concentration.