Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 19

पूजास्थानशुद्धिः पात्रशोधनं च — Purification of the Worship-Space and Preparation of Ritual Vessels

Devanagari script

सुयशां सुव्रतामम्बां पादमण्डनतत्पराम् । पूजयित्वा प्रविश्यान्तर्भवनं परमेष्ठिनः

Transliteration

suyaśāṃ suvratāmambāṃ pādamaṇḍanatatparām | pūjayitvā praviśyāntarbhavanaṃ parameṣṭhinaḥ

Translation

善き名声と堅固な誓戒に名高く、常に御足を飾り敬って奉仕することに心を注ぐアンバーを礼拝し、彼はついにパラメーシュティン（梵天）の内奥の宮へと入った。

Word by Word

• सु-यशाम्: of good fame
• सु-यशाम्: कर्म (Object; epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय/उपसर्गप्राय) + यशस्/यश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सुन्दरं यशः यस्याः)

• सु-व्रताम्: of good vows
• सु-व्रताम्: कर्म (Object; epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय/उपसर्गप्राय) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सुन्दरं व्रतम् यस्याः)

• अम्बाम्: the mother/lady
• अम्बाम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पाद-मण्डन-तत्पराम्: devoted to adorning the feet
• पाद-मण्डन-तत्पराम्: कर्म (Object; epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डन (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पादमण्डने तत्परा)

• पूजयित्वा: having worshipped
• पूजयित्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (absolutive; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having worshipped’

• प्रविश्य: having entered
• प्रविश्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (absolutive; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-लोपे (ल्यप्) अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), ‘having entered’

• अन्तः-भवनम्: the inner palace/inner house
• अन्तः-भवनम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तः (अव्यय) + भवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः (अन्तः भवनम् = inner residence)

• परमेष्ठिनः: of the Supreme Lord (Parameṣṭhin)
• परमेष्ठिनः: सम्बन्ध (genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमेष्ठिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Ambā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Ambā
• Brahmā

FAQs

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

The verse highlights bhakti expressed as reverent honoring of the Divine Mother (Ambā) before approaching higher realms of authority and knowledge (Brahmā’s inner abode), emphasizing humility and auspiciousness as prerequisites for spiritual progress.

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

In Shaiva practice, approaching Saguna realities—Śiva with form and His divine śakti—begins with pūjā and respectful service. Ambā here represents Śiva’s śakti, and honoring her aligns the devotee with auspicious power (anugraha) that supports right worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests pūjā with a service-attitude (sevā-bhāva): honoring the divine feet (pāda-sevā) as a symbol of surrender—practically expressed through offerings, mantra-japa (e.g., pañcākṣarī), and entering worship with purity and reverence.