Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 42

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

न धूपमिति मन्यन्ते धूपान्तरविधानतः । सितागुरुमघोराख्ये मुखे कृष्णागुरुं पुनः

Transliteration

na dhūpamiti manyante dhūpāntaravidhānataḥ | sitāgurumaghorākhye mukhe kṛṣṇāguruṃ punaḥ

Translation

薫香の供献には種々の規定があり、ただ一様の「香」とはみなされない。アゴーラと名づける御面には白き沈香（シーターグル）を定め、また別の規定では黒き沈香（クリシュナーグル）を用いると説く。

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• dhūpam: incense
• dhūpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: इति-उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• manyante: they think/consider
• manyante: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: man (मन्) (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• dhūpa-antara-vidhānataḥ: due to a different prescription of incense
• dhūpa-antara-vidhānataḥ: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dhūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + antara (प्रातिपदिक) + vidhāna (प्रातिपदिक) + tas (तस्) (प्रत्यय)
• Form: समासान्त-तसिल् (तस्) अव्यय; पञ्चमी-अर्थे (ablatival sense): ‘विधानतः’ = ‘विधानात्/विधानेन’

• sitā-gurum: white agaru
• sitā-gurum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sitā (प्रातिपदिक) + guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (श्वेतं गुरु इति)

• aghorākhye: in (the face) called Aghora
• aghorākhye: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aghora (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘अघोर-आख्य’ = ‘अघोर-नाम्नि’

• mukhe: in the face/mouth
• mukhe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• kṛṣṇa-agurum: black agaru
• kṛṣṇa-agurum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + aguru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (कृष्णं अगुरु इति)

• punaḥ: again; further
• punaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/पुनरावृत्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Āghoramūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; it specifies dhūpa-bheda (incense variations) aligned to Śiva’s mukha/aspect, explicitly naming Aghora.

Significance: Teaches that worship is not merely generic offering but intentional alignment with Śiva’s revealed aspects—refining the devotee’s attention (bhāva) and ritual precision.

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that Shiva-puja is not casual but guided by vidhi (sacred procedure): offerings like incense are chosen with discernment, reflecting inner purity and attentive devotion to Pati (Shiva).

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

By linking specific incense types to Shiva’s aspect (such as Aghora), it shows Saguna worship—honoring Shiva through concrete, prescribed offerings to the Linga and divine forms while cultivating reverence for His transcendent nature.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use dhūpa thoughtfully as per tradition—such as offering agaru (white or black as prescribed) during Linga-puja—while maintaining steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and a calm, sattvic mind.