Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 39

लिङ्गपूजनसंक्षेपः

Concise Teaching on Liṅga Worship / Śiva-arcana-vidhi

Devanagari script

स्थापयेद्विविधान्कुंभान्नव धीमान्यथाविधि । दर्भैराच्छाद्य तैरेव संस्थाप्याभ्युक्ष्य वारिणा

Transliteration

sthāpayedvividhānkuṃbhānnava dhīmānyathāvidhi | darbhairācchādya taireva saṃsthāpyābhyukṣya vāriṇā

Translation

വിധിപ്രകാരം ബുദ്ധിമാൻ ഉപാസകൻ ഒമ്പതു വിധ കുംഭങ്ങൾ സ്ഥാപിക്കണം. ദർഭകൊണ്ട് മൂടി, അതേ ദർഭയോടെ ശരിയായി സ്ഥാപിച്ച് ശുദ്ധിക്കായി ജലപ്രോക്ഷണം ചെയ്യണം.

Word by Word

• sthāpayet: should place/establish
• sthāpayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्, optative), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana (singular); causative sense ‘to cause to stand/place’

• vividhān: various
• vividhān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Bahuvacana (plural); viśeṣaṇa of kumbhān

• kumbhān: pots (ritual jars)
• kumbhān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Bahuvacana (plural)

• nava: nine
• nava: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Bahuvacana (plural); viśeṣaṇa of kumbhān

• dhīmān: the wise person
• dhīmān: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (singular)

• yathāvidhi: as prescribed
• yathāvidhi: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā + vidhi (अव्यय + प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva (अव्ययीभाव) adverb ‘according to rule’

• darbhaiḥ: with darbha grass
• darbhaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: darbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana (plural)

• ācchādya: having covered
• ācchādya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + chad (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यबन्त), ‘having covered’

• taiḥ: with those (same)
• taiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana (plural); pronoun referring to darbhas

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avadhāraṇa-nipāta (अवधारण-निपात)

• saṃsthāpya: having installed
• saṃsthāpya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + sthā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यबन्त), ‘having set/installed’

• abhyukṣya: having sprinkled
• abhyukṣya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi + ukṣ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यबन्त), ‘having sprinkled’

• vāriṇā: with water
• vāriṇā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana (singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the prescribed Shiva-worship procedure to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that approaching Shiva (Pati) is done through śuddhi and niyama—outer ritual order reflecting inner purity—so the devotee’s mind becomes fit for devotion and grace.

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

The kumbhas function as consecrated supports for inviting and stabilizing sacred presence during Saguna worship; they prepare the ritual field in which Linga-puja and mantra-upacāras are performed without impurity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Kumbha-sthāpana with darbha covering and water-sprinkling (prokṣaṇa) is indicated—an act of purification and consecration that should be done with steady attention and Shiva-mantra remembrance.