Shloka 17

Adhyaya 79 — Bhakti-Mahima and Linga-Archana-Vidhi

Condensed Ritual Sequence

Devanagari script

शमीपुष्पैर् बृहत्पुष्पैर् उन्मत्तागस्त्यजैरपि अपामार्गकदम्बैश् च भूषणैरपि शोभनैः

Transliteration

śamīpuṣpair bṛhatpuṣpair unmattāgastyajairapi apāmārgakadambaiś ca bhūṣaṇairapi śobhanaiḥ

Translation

Hendaknya ia menghias Śiva-liṅga dengan bunga śamī, bunga-bunga besar, juga bunga unmattā dan agastya; demikian pula dengan bunga apāmārga dan kadamba, serta perhiasan yang indah. Dengan itu pemujaan kepada Pati (Śiva), pembebas paśu dari pāśa, menjadi mulia dan gemilang.

Word by Word

• śamī-puṣpaiḥ: with śamī flowers

• bṛhat-puṣpaiḥ: with large blossoms

• unmattā: with dhattūra-type flowers (unmattā)

• agastya-jaiḥ api: also with agastya flowers

• apāmārga: with apāmārga (prickly chaff flower)

• kadambaiḥ ca: and with kadamba blossoms

• bhūṣaṇaiḥ api: also with ornaments/adornments

• śobhanaiḥ: beautiful, auspicious, splendid (decorations)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-puja procedure to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It specifies permissible and auspicious flower-offerings and adornments (bhūṣaṇa) as part of upacāra, emphasizing that beauty and purity of offering are integral to honoring the Linga as Pati.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

By directing offerings to the Linga, the verse points to Shiva as Pati—the transcendent Lord who receives devotion through symbol and ritual, and who grants release of the paśu (individual soul) from pāśa (bondage).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Ritualistically it highlights puṣpa-arcana and alaṅkāra (flower worship and ornamentation) of the Linga; yogically, it supports Pāśupata-oriented discipline where outer worship steadies devotion and purifies the paśu for inner realization.