Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 1

पूजाविधिः

Pūjā-vidhiḥ) — The Supreme Procedure of Worship (Morning Observances

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि पूजाविधिमनुत्तमम् । श्रूयतामृषयो देवास्सर्वकामसुखावहम्

Transliteration

brahmovāca | ataḥ paraṃ pravakṣyāmi pūjāvidhimanuttamam | śrūyatāmṛṣayo devāssarvakāmasukhāvaham

Translation

ബ്രഹ്മാവ് പറഞ്ഞു—ഇനി ഞാൻ അനുത്തമമായ പൂജാവിധി പ്രസ്താവിക്കും. ഹേ ഋഷിമാരേ, ദേവന്മാരേ, ശ്രവിക്കുവിൻ; ഇത് എല്ലാ ധാർമ്മിക ആഗ്രഹങ്ങളെയും നിറവേറ്റുന്ന സുഖം നൽകുന്നു.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: कर्ता (Speaker/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative singular

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन — Perfect 3sg; परस्मैपद

• अतः: thereafter/therefore
• अतः: सम्बन्ध/हेतु (Logical connector/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): हेत्वर्थे/अनन्तरार्थे (therefore/thereafter)

• परम्: further/next
• परम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial: ‘further/next’)

• प्रवक्ष्यामि: I shall explain
• प्रवक्ष्यामि: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (भविष्यत्काल/Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन — Future 1sg; परस्मैपद

• पूजा-विधिम्: the method of worship
• पूजा-विधिम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular; तत्पुरुष (‘procedure of worship’)

• अनुत्तमम्: unsurpassed
• अनुत्तमम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular; विशेषण (qualifying पूजा-विधिम्)

• श्रूयताम्: let (this) be heard
• श्रूयताम्: क्रिया (Injunction/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थक/Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन — Imperative 3sg; आत्मनेपद; भावे प्रयोगः (impersonal passive sense: ‘let it be heard’)

• ऋषयः: O sages
• ऋषयः: सम्बोधन (Addressed audience/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/प्रथमा), बहुवचन — Nominative plural (addressed)

• देवाः: O gods
• देवाः: सम्बोधन (Addressed audience/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/प्रथमा), बहुवचन — Nominative plural (addressed)

• सर्व-काम-सुख-आवहम्: bringing all desired happiness
• सर्व-काम-सुख-आवहम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक) + सुख (प्रातिपदिक) + आवह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (‘bringing all desired happiness’), विशेषण (qualifying पूजा-विधिम्)

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames pūjā-vidhi as anuttama (unsurpassed) upāya: ritual worship as a means to śiva-prasāda, yielding sukha aligned with dharma and ultimately conducive to liberation.

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Rishis
• Devas

FAQs

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

It marks the transition into a formal teaching of Shiva-worship (pūjāvidhi), presenting devotion as a disciplined means to receive Shiva’s grace—bringing both worldly well-being (sukha) and the higher aim of inner purification that supports liberation.

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

By announcing an “unsurpassed” worship-method, Brahmā signals a practical, form-based discipline typical of Saguna Shiva devotion—most commonly expressed through Śiva-liṅga pūjā, where the devotee approaches the formless Supreme through a sanctified symbol and prescribed offerings.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse introduces structured Shiva pūjā as the practice; in Shaiva usage this typically includes mantra-japa (often the Pañcākṣarī), purity disciplines, and devotional offerings—preparing the mind for steady remembrance of Shiva.