Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 34

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

नीलोत्पलैस्तथान्यैश्च पुष्पैस्तैस्तैस्सुगंधिभिः । पुण्यैः प्रशस्तैः पत्रैश्च चित्रैर्दूर्वाक्षतादिभिः

Transliteration

nīlotpalaistathānyaiśca puṣpaistaistaissugaṃdhibhiḥ | puṇyaiḥ praśastaiḥ patraiśca citrairdūrvākṣatādibhiḥ

Translation

青い蓮華、また種々の香り高い花々をもって、清らかで吉祥なる葉をもって、さらにドゥールヴァ草やアクシャタ（砕けぬ米）などの彩りある聖なる供物をもって（供養を行うべし）。

Word by Word

• nīla-utpalaiḥ: with blue lotuses
• nīla-utpalaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nīla (प्रातिपदिक) + utpala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana; compound: karmadhāraya ‘blue lotuses’

• tathā: also
• tathā: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb ‘thus/also’

• anyaiḥ: with other
• anyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃ/Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; agrees with implied ‘puṣpaiḥ’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction

• puṣpaiḥ: with flowers
• puṣpaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• taiḥ: with those
• taiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Puṃ/Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; demonstrative ‘with those’

• taiḥ: with those (various)
• taiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Puṃ/Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; repetition for emphasis

• sugandhibhiḥ: with fragrant (ones)
• sugandhibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद) + gandhin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃ/Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; ‘fragrant’ qualifying flowers

• puṇyaiḥ: with auspicious
• puṇyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃ/Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; ‘pure/meritorious’

• praśastaiḥ: with excellent
• praśastaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: praśasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃ/Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; ‘excellent/commended’

• patraiḥ: with leaves
• patraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction

• citraiḥ: with colorful
• citraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: citra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃ/Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; ‘variegated/beautiful’

• dūrvā-akṣata-ādibhiḥ: with dūrvā, akṣata, etc.
• dūrvā-akṣata-ādibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dūrvā (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣata (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃ/Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; compound: tatpuruṣa with ādi ‘etc.’ meaning ‘with dūrvā grass, unbroken rice, and the like’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes the standard of dravya-śuddhi and bhāva-śuddhi in liṅga/Śiva-pūjā; such upacāras are taught to make the bound soul (paśu) fit for Śiva’s grace (anugraha).

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion (bhakti) is expressed through purity and auspiciousness in worship—offering fragrant flowers, sacred leaves, dūrvā and akṣata as reverent upacāras to Lord Shiva, the Pati who grants grace and liberation.

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

These are standard ritual offerings used in saguna worship of Shiva as the Linga, where tangible upacāras—flowers, leaves, and sanctified items—help the devotee focus the mind and surrender to Shiva’s presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Linga-pūjā by offering fragrant flowers and auspicious leaves along with dūrvā and akṣata, while maintaining inner purity and steady remembrance of Shiva (commonly supported by japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”).