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

主のリンガは、シャミーの花、大輪の花、さらにウンマッターとアガスティヤの花で飾り、またアパーマールガとカダンバの花を添え、麗しい装身具をもって荘厳すべきである。かくして、パーシャよりパシュを解き放つ主宰パティへの供養は、いよいよ光輝く。

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.