Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 18

पूजाविधिः

Pūjā-vidhiḥ) — The Supreme Procedure of Worship (Morning Observances

Devanagari script

शुचौ देशे ततो गत्वा गोमयाद्युपमार्जिते । आसनं च शुभं तत्र रचनीयं द्विजोत्तमाः

Transliteration

śucau deśe tato gatvā gomayādyupamārjite | āsanaṃ ca śubhaṃ tatra racanīyaṃ dvijottamāḥ

Translation

Kemudian, setelah pergi ke tempat yang suci—yang telah disucikan dengan kotoran sapi dan sejenisnya—wahai yang terbaik di antara para dvija, hendaknya menata sebuah tempat duduk yang auspisius di sana.

Word by Word

• śucau: in a pure/clean
• śucau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuci (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Masc/Neut), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; ‘deśe’ इत्यस्य विशेषण (qualifier)

• deśe: place
• deśe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रमवाचक अव्यय (sequence adverb)

• gatvā: having gone
• gatvā: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (गम्-धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive) ‘having gone’

• gomaya-ādi-upamārjite: cleansed with cow-dung etc.
• gomaya-ādi-upamārjite: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gomaya (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + upamārjita (mṛj्-धातु, कृदन्त past participle)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘deśe’ इत्यस्य विशेषण; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषभावः: ‘गोमयादिभिः उपमार्जितः’ (cleansed with cow-dung etc.)

• āsanam: seat
• āsanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• śubham: auspicious/good
• śubham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘āsanam’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb)

• racanīyam: should be arranged/constructed
• racanīyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: racanīya (rac-धातु/रच्, कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेयविशेषण: ‘रचयितव्यम्’ (to be arranged/made)

• dvija-uttamāḥ: O best of the twice-born (Brahmins)
• dvija-uttamāḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन; संबोधनार्थे प्रयोगः (vocative sense by context): ‘O best of twice-born’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s prescribed worship method to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes the sacred micro-space for Śiva-upāsanā: selecting a śuci-deśa and purifying it (gomaya) creates a stable ritual field conducive to concentration and sustained worship.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva-worship begins with inner and outer purity: a cleansed space and a sanctified seat symbolize steadiness of mind, reverence, and readiness to approach Pati (Shiva) with disciplined devotion.

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

Linga-worship is performed in a consecrated environment; preparing a purified place and an auspicious asana establishes sacred order (śauca) before invoking Saguna Shiva in the Linga for focused devotion and mantra-japa.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Clean a suitable spot (traditionally with gomaya as a purifier), then set an asana and sit steadily for Shiva-puja—supporting practices like japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and meditative concentration.