Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 5

मृत्युञ्जय-विद्या-प्रादुर्भावः

The Manifestation/Transmission of the Mṛtyuñjaya Vidyā

Devanagari script

सहस्रकृत्वो देवेशं चन्दनैर्यक्षकर्दमैः । समालिलिंप सुप्रीत्या सुगन्धोद्वर्त्तनान्यनु

Transliteration

sahasrakṛtvo deveśaṃ candanairyakṣakardamaiḥ | samāliliṃpa suprītyā sugandhodvarttanānyanu

Translation

大いなる歓喜をもって、彼は檀香の練香とヤクシャの芳香ある塗香により、諸天の主を千度も塗り清め、さらに甘美な香りの軟膏をもって摩擦し、御身を荘厳し続けた。

Word by Word

• सहस्रकृत्वः: a thousand times
• सहस्रकृत्वः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहस्रकृत्वस् (प्रातिपदिक; सहस्र + कृत्वस्)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of frequency); समासः—अव्ययीभाव (Avyayībhāva)

• देवेशम्: the Lord of the gods
• देवेशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवेश (प्रातिपदिक; देव + ईश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (singular); समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive tatpuruṣa: देवानाम् ईशः)

• चन्दनैः: with sandal(-paste)
• चन्दनैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन (plural)

• यक्षकर्दमैः: with yakṣa-mud (fragrant paste)
• यक्षकर्दमैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यक्षकर्दम (प्रातिपदिक; यक्ष + कर्दम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन (plural); समासः—तत्पुरुष (determinative: यक्षाणां कर्दमाः / yakṣa-mud)

• सम्: completely/together (prefix)
• सम्: Upasarga (उपसर्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् (उपसर्ग)
• Form: उपसर्ग (preverb)

• आलिलिम्प: (he) anointed/smeared
• आलिलिम्प: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); परस्मैपद; धातु—लिप् (to smear/anoint) with उपसर्ग आ-; रूपम्: आलिलिम्प

• सुप्रीत्या: with great love
• सुप्रीत्या: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुप्रीति (प्रातिपदिक; सु + प्रीति)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन (singular); समासः—कर्मधारय (su-prīti = very great affection)

• सुगन्धोद्वर्तनानि: fragrant unguents/rubbings
• सुगन्धोद्वर्तनानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुगन्धोद्वर्तन (प्रातिपदिक; सुगन्ध + उद्वर्तन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), बहुवचन (plural); समासः—कर्मधारय (sugandha-udvartana = fragrant unguents/rubbings)

• अनु: afterwards; following that
• अनु: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), उपपद/क्रियाविशेषण (postposition/adverb: after, following)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Continuing the Kāśī worship account, the devotee performs repeated anointing (lepa/udvartana) with candana and fragrant pastes—typical of royal-style sevā offered to Viśvanātha, expressing intimacy and delight in service.

Significance: Gandha-lepana is a refinement of pūjā that symbolizes cooling, pacifying, and honoring the Lord; it is praised as a bhakti-act that softens egoity and strengthens surrender.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights bhakti expressed through upacāra-sevā (devotional ritual service): repeatedly anointing Śiva symbolizes sustained, joyful surrender where the devotee honors the Lord’s compassionate, accessible saguna form.

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

Anointing with sandal and fragrant pastes is a classic form of pūjā offered to the Liṅga or to Śiva’s iconic form, affirming that the transcendent (nirguṇa) Lord is worshiped through tangible, purifying offerings in His saguna manifestation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform gandha-lepana/udvartana as part of Śiva-pūjā—apply sandal paste (and other fragrances) with a focused mind, ideally accompanied by japa such as “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” sustaining devotion through repetition.