Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 40

मन्त्रसिद्धिः, प्रतिबन्धनिरासः, श्रद्धा-नियमाः

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

Devanagari script

एकावरा त्र्युत्तरा च पूजा फलवशादिह । दशसंख्यावरो होमः प्रतिद्रव्यं शतोत्तरः

Transliteration

ekāvarā tryuttarā ca pūjā phalavaśādiha | daśasaṃkhyāvaro homaḥ pratidravyaṃ śatottaraḥ

Translation

Ici, selon le fruit recherché, le culte peut être accompli une fois, ou bien trois fois avec une répétition supplémentaire. Le homa est prescrit par multiples de dix ; et pour chaque substance d’offrande, il doit être accompli cent une (101) fois.

Word by Word

• ekā-avarā: one less (i.e., 99-fold)
• ekā-avarā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ekā (प्रातिपदिक) + avara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय ("one-less" = 99); विशेषणम् (qualifies pūjā)

• tri-uttarā: three more (i.e., 103-fold)
• tri-uttarā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय ("three more" = 103); विशेषणम् (qualifies pūjā)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• pūjā: worship
• pūjā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• phala-vaśāt: depending on the result
• phala-vaśāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक) + vaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष ("due to the influence of result"); अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः (adverbial sense: "depending on")

• iha: here
• iha: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place: "here")

• daśa-saṃkhyā-avaraḥ: ten less (i.e., 90-fold)
• daśa-saṃkhyā-avaraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśa (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃkhyā (प्रातिपदिक) + avara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष ("ten-count less" = 90); विशेषणम् (qualifies homaḥ)

• homaḥ: fire-offering (homa)
• homaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: homa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• prati-dravyam: per (each) substance
• prati-dravyam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prati (अव्यय) + dravya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (indeclinable compound): "per item/substance"

• śata-uttaraḥ: a hundred more (i.e., 200)
• śata-uttaraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक) + uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय ("a hundred more" = 200); विशेषणम् (qualifies homaḥ or implied count)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General ritual-technology: frequency of pūjā (once or multiple times) is adjusted by desired phala; homa counts are structured (daśa-based) and each dravya receives 101 offerings—typical of completion/auspicious odd-number logic.

Significance: Teaches niyama (regulated practice) and saṅkalpa-aligned worship; reinforces that grace is approached through disciplined, correctly measured ritual action.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shaiva worship is not random: the number of repetitions in pūjā and homa is aligned with the seeker’s intended fruit, cultivating steadiness (niyama), purity, and one-pointed devotion toward Pati (Shiva).

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

The verse supports Saguna Shiva worship through structured pūjā and homa—outer acts that stabilize the mind and refine devotion, preparing the aspirant to recognize Shiva’s inner presence beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Shiva-pūjā in a prescribed count (once or with repeated cycles as intended), and accompany it with homa in multiples of ten—specifically 101 offerings per each chosen dravya—while maintaining mantra-focused attention.