Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 34

अग्निकार्य-होमविधिः

Agnikārya and Homa Procedure

Devanagari script

प्रायश्चित्ताय जुहुयान्मंत्रयित्वाहुतित्रयम् । ततो होमविशिष्टेन घृतेनापूर्य वै स्रुचम्

Transliteration

prāyaścittāya juhuyānmaṃtrayitvāhutitrayam | tato homaviśiṣṭena ghṛtenāpūrya vai srucam

Translation

Pour l’expiation (prāyaścitta), qu’il verse dans le feu sacré trois oblations, après les avoir sanctifiées par le mantra. Puis, remplissant la cuillère rituelle (sruva) de ghee spécialement consacré par le homa, qu’il poursuive le rite.

Word by Word

• प्रायश्चित्ताय: for expiation
• प्रायश्चित्ताय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रायश्चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान/Dative), एकवचन

• जुहुयात्: should offer (oblation)
• जुहुयात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मन्त्रयित्वा: having recited (mantras)
• मन्त्रयित्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन्त्रय् (धातु) + त्वा (कृत्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वक्रिया (having recited/uttered mantras)

• आहुति-त्रयम्: three oblations
• आहुति-त्रयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहुति (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (numeral compound) ‘three oblations’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, तस्मात्-अर्थे (ablatival adverb: thereafter/from that)

• होम-विशिष्टेन: with (ghee) distinguished/used for homa
• होम-विशिष्टेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक) + विशिष्ट (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (होमेन विशिष्टः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• घृतेन: with ghee
• घृतेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• आपूर्य: having filled
• आपूर्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + पूर् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund), ‘having filled’

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (emphatic particle)

• स्रुचम्: the ladle
• स्रुचम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्रुच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames prāyaścitta (expiation) as a Śaiva path of purification: the bound soul (paśu) reduces pāśa (bondage) through mantra-sanctified action and Śiva’s grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that impurities (pāśa) are loosened through disciplined prayāścitta—mantra-guided offerings that purify the devotee’s intention and restore alignment with Shiva (Pati) as the inner witness of all rites.

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

Although it describes a Vedic-style homa, the act is ultimately an offering to Shiva as Saguna—approached through mantra and sacred fire—preparing the devotee for steadier Linga-worship by cleansing faults and renewing śiva-bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A brief prayāścitta homa: chant the appropriate mantra, offer three oblations, then continue using ghee sanctified by the rite—emphasizing mantra-smarana and purity of offering as the core discipline.