Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 38

अग्निकार्य-होमविधिः

Agnikārya and Homa Procedure

Devanagari script

अथवा वह्निमानीय शिवशास्त्रोक्तवर्त्मना । वागीशीगर्भसंभूतं संस्कृत्य विधिवद्यजेत्

Transliteration

athavā vahnimānīya śivaśāstroktavartmanā | vāgīśīgarbhasaṃbhūtaṃ saṃskṛtya vidhivadyajet

Translation

अथवा अग्नि को ले आकर, शिव-शास्त्र में बताए मार्ग के अनुसार, वागीशी के गर्भ से उत्पन्न (वस्तु/देवी-तत्त्व) का विधिपूर्वक संस्कार करके, फिर नियमानुसार उसका पूजन करे।

Word by Word

• अथवा: or else
• अथवा: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ + वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विकल्पार्थक (alternatively/or else)

• वह्निम्: fire
• वह्निम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• आनीय: having brought
• आनीय: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√नी (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), पूर्वकाल

• शिव-शास्त्र-उक्त-वर्त्मना: by the path/method stated in Śiva’s scripture
• शिव-शास्त्र-उक्त-वर्त्मना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + उक्त (√वच्, कृदन्त) + वर्त्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष): ‘शिवशास्त्रे उक्तं वर्त्म’

• वागीशी-गर्भ-संभूतम्: born from the womb of Vāgīśī
• वागीशी-गर्भ-संभूतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वागीशी (प्रातिपदिक) + गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + संभूत (सम्-√भू, कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष): ‘वागीश्याः गर्भात् संभूतम्’

• संस्कृत्य: having consecrated/refined
• संस्कृत्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), पूर्वकाल; ‘संस्कार’ (consecrating/refining) अर्थे

• विधिवत्: according to the prescribed rite
• विधिवत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (according to rule)

• यजेत्: should worship/perform sacrifice
• यजेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Lalitā

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that worship becomes spiritually effective when performed through Śiva-śāstra—purification, consecration, and disciplined rite—so the devotee’s act aligns with Shiva as Pati, the liberating Lord.

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

By stressing consecration (saṃskāra) and vidhi, the verse supports Saguna worship—approaching Shiva through a sanctified form and a scripturally guided ritual process, which is central to Linga-pūjā traditions.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests a fire-assisted rite (bringing/establishing sacred fire), followed by consecration and formal worship according to Shaiva injunctions—typically accompanied by mantra-recitation and purity observances.