Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 39

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

हैममेकं परं प्राहुः पद्मं पद्मसहस्रकात् । नीलोत्पलादिष्वप्येतत्समानं बिल्बपत्रकैः

Transliteration

haimamekaṃ paraṃ prāhuḥ padmaṃ padmasahasrakāt | nīlotpalādiṣvapyetatsamānaṃ bilbapatrakaiḥ

Translation

ಸಾವಿರ ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯ ಕಮಲಗಳಿಗಿಂತ ಒಂದು ಸ್ವರ್ಣಕಮಲ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠವೆಂದು ಹೇಳುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ನೀಲೋತ್ಪಲಾದಿ ಪುಷ್ಪಗಳಲ್ಲಿಯೂ, ಬಿಲ್ವಪತ್ರಗಳಿಂದ ಶಿವನಿಗೆ ಅರ್ಪಿಸಿದರೆ ಅದು ಸಮಾನವೆಂದು ಗಣ್ಯವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ.

Word by Word

• हैमम्: golden
• हैमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हैम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying 'padmaṃ')

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण

• परम्: supreme/excellent
• परम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण (excellent/supreme)

• प्राहुः: they have said/call
• प्राहुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आह् (धातु: अह्/आह् ‘to say’)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• पद्मम्: lotus
• पद्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• पद्मसहस्रकात्: from (among) a thousand lotuses
• पद्मसहस्रकात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म-सहस्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पद्मानां सहस्रकम्)

• नीलोत्पलादिषु: among blue lotuses and the like
• नीलोत्पलादिषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नील-उत्पल-आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; समाहार/तत्पुरुषसमासः (नीलोत्पलम् आदि यस्मिन्)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ (also/even)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• समानम्: similar/equivalent
• समानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (agreeing with एतत्)

• बिल्बपत्रकैः: with bilva leaves
• बिल्बपत्रकैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बिल्ब-पत्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (बिल्बस्य पत्रकाणि)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: This verse is a general pūjā-vidhi valuation statement (bilva-leaf supremacy) rather than a specific Jyotirliṅga māhātmya episode.

Significance: Teaches that devotion expressed through Śiva-priya offerings (especially bilva) yields heightened merit even when costly flowers are unavailable—supporting accessible bhakti for householders.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that in Śiva-bhakti, the inner devotion (bhāva) makes an offering spiritually weighty; bilva leaves, specially dear to Śiva, can equal or surpass abundant floral offerings when given with sincerity.

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

The verse supports Saguna Śiva worship through the Śiva-liṅga by emphasizing prescribed sacred offerings—especially bilva patra—as a direct, tangible expression of reverence that attracts Śiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Offer bilva leaves to the Śiva-liṅga with focused devotion, ideally while reciting the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), treating the offering as a disciplined act of bhakti and inner purification.