Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 12

मन्त्रसिद्धिः, प्रतिबन्धनिरासः, श्रद्धा-नियमाः

Mantra Efficacy, Removal of Obstacles, and the Role of Faith/Discipline

Devanagari script

इत्थमाचारवान्भूत्वा स्वानुकूले शुभे ऽहनि । पूर्वोक्तलक्षणे देशे पुष्पदामाद्यलंकृते

Transliteration

itthamācāravānbhūtvā svānukūle śubhe 'hani | pūrvoktalakṣaṇe deśe puṣpadāmādyalaṃkṛte

Translation

Ainsi, devenu observant de la juste conduite, en un jour faste et favorable à soi, dans un lieu possédant les caractéristiques énoncées plus haut et orné de guirlandes de fleurs et d’autres décorations, qu’il accomplisse le culte selon la règle.

Word by Word

• इत्थम्: thus, in this manner
• इत्थम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इत्थम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• आचारवान्: one possessing good conduct
• आचारवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आचारवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective)

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (prior action)

• स्व-अनुकूले: in (a time) favorable to oneself
• स्व-अनुकूले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुकूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘स्वस्य अनुकूलः’)

• शुभे: auspicious
• शुभे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• अहनि: on the day
• अहनि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• पूर्व-उक्त-लक्षणे: in the place having the marks stated earlier
• पूर्व-उक्त-लक्षणे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + उक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (निर्देश/विशेषण-समूह)

• देशे: in the place
• देशे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• पुष्प-दाम-आदि-अलंकृते: in (a place) adorned with flower-garlands and the like
• पुष्प-दाम-आदि-अलंकृते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + दाम (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + अलंकृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (उपपद/निर्देश: ‘पुष्पदामादिभिः अलंकृतः’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: General kṣetra-śuddhi and śubha-kāla: choosing auspicious time/place and decorating the worship area is a pan-Indian Śaiva temple/home-pūjā norm.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that outer worship becomes fruitful when supported by inner discipline (ācāra): purity of conduct, auspicious intention, and a sanctified space oriented toward devotion to Pati (Shiva).

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

It sets the preparatory framework for Saguna worship—choosing a proper, consecrated place and adorning it—so the devotee can approach the Linga with reverence, order, and devotional focus.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prepare for Shiva-puja by adopting disciplined conduct, selecting an auspicious time, and arranging a clean, decorated worship area; this supports steady dhyāna and mantra-japa (such as the Panchākṣarī, Om Namaḥ Śivāya) during the rite.