Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 18

आवरणपूजाविधानम् / The Procedure of Āvaraṇa (Enclosure) Worship

Devanagari script

पुष्पाणि सुरभीण्येव पवित्राणि शुभानि च । निर्गंधान्युग्रगंधानि दूषितान्युषितानि च

Transliteration

puṣpāṇi surabhīṇyeva pavitrāṇi śubhāni ca | nirgaṃdhānyugragaṃdhāni dūṣitānyuṣitāni ca

Translation

花は、芳しく、清らかで、吉祥なるものでもよい。あるいは、無香であったり、荒々しく強い匂いを放ったり、汚れを帯びていたり、萎れて古くなっていたりもする――これらすべてが礼拝の文脈において語られる。

Word by Word

• puṣpāṇi: flowers
• puṣpāṇi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), बहुवचन (Pl.)

• surabhīṇi: fragrant
• surabhīṇi: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: surabhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), बहुवचन (Pl.); विशेषण (adjective)

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle of emphasis/only)

• pavitrāṇi: pure
• pavitrāṇi: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pavitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), बहुवचन (Pl.); विशेषण (adjective)

• śubhāni: auspicious/good
• śubhāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), बहुवचन (Pl.); विशेषण (adjective)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• nir-gandhāni: without fragrance
• nir-gandhāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + gandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपसर्गपूर्वक-प्रातिपदिक (prefixal formation), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), बहुवचन (Pl.); विशेषण

• ugra-gandhāni: strong-smelling/pungent
• ugra-gandhāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ugra (प्रातिपदिक) + gandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास (Karmadhāraya; 'strong-fragrant'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), बहुवचन (Pl.); विशेषण

• dūṣitāni: spoiled/tainted
• dūṣitāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √dūṣ (दूष् धातु) + ta (क्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle, क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), बहुवचन (Pl.); विशेषण

• uṣitāni: stale/kept overnight
• uṣitāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √vas (वस् धातु; उषित = 'dwelt/kept') + ta (क्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle, क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), बहुवचन (Pl.); विशेषण

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Teaches the rule of fitness (yogyatā) in offerings: the devotee learns to reject stale/tainted inputs—an allegory for rejecting mala (impurities) and māyic distortions under tirodhāna.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights discernment in offerings: outer substances like flowers have qualities (pure/impure, fresh/stale), and Shaiva worship values offering what is sattvic and undefiled as an expression of inner purity and devotion to Pati (Shiva).

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

In Linga worship, the devotee serves Saguna Shiva through concrete ritual acts; this verse frames the acceptability of flowers by their condition, indicating that respectful, fresh, and pure offerings align the worshipper’s bhakti with ritual propriety.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Offer fresh, clean, naturally pleasant flowers (avoid stale or tainted ones), while mentally maintaining purity through japa of the Panchakshara mantra—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—so the external offering mirrors inner reverence.