Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 19

पूजाविधिः

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

Devanagari script

शुद्धकाष्ठसमुत्पन्नं पूर्णं स्तरितमेव वा । चित्रासनं तथा कुर्यात्सर्वकामफलप्र दम्

Transliteration

śuddhakāṣṭhasamutpannaṃ pūrṇaṃ staritameva vā | citrāsanaṃ tathā kuryātsarvakāmaphalapra dam

Translation

ശുദ്ധമായ മരത്തിൽ നിന്നുണ്ടാക്കിയ ആസനം—പൂർണ്ണവും അഖണ്ഡവുമായിരിക്കട്ടെ അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ശരിയായി വിരിച്ചു/മൂടിയതായിരിക്കട്ടെ—അത് അലങ്കരിച്ച് ‘ചിത്രാസനം’ ആക്കണം; (ശിവപൂജയിൽ) അത് സർവകാമഫലപ്രദമാണ്।

Word by Word

• शुद्ध-काष्ठ-समुत्पन्नम्: produced from pure wood
• शुद्ध-काष्ठ-समुत्पन्नम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + काष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + समुत्पन्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; सम्-उत्-√पद्/√पद्? → उत्पन्न from √पद्/√पद् 'to arise' in usage; standard: उत्पन्न from √पद्/√पद् as 'arise')
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (चित्रासनम्) प्रति; past passive participle sense 'arisen/produced'; accusative singular neuter

• पूर्णम्: complete/whole
• पूर्णम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (चित्रासनम्) प्रति; accusative singular neuter

• स्तरितम्: covered/spread over
• स्तरितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्तरित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √स्तॄ/स्तृ (धातु) 'to spread/cover')
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP); विशेषणम् (चित्रासनम्) प्रति; accusative singular neuter

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• वा: or
• वा: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक निपात (disjunctive particle: or)

• चित्र-आसनम्: a decorated seat
• चित्र-आसनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; accusative singular neuter

• तथा: likewise/thus
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: thus/likewise)

• कुर्यात्: should make
• कुर्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; parasmaipada; 'should make/do'

• सर्व-काम-फल-प्रदम्: granting the fruits of all desires
• सर्व-काम-फल-प्रदम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक; from √दा with प्र-; 'giver')
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (चित्रासनम्) प्रति; accusative singular neuter

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s worship-instructions within the Rudrasaṃhitā context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes ritual adhikāra and purity (śuddhi) for Śiva-upāsanā; a properly prepared āsana is treated as an upacāra that supports siddhi of desired aims (kāmya-phala) within dhārmic worship.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that outer purity and careful preparation in worship—such as a clean, properly made āsana—supports inner steadiness (bhāva) and makes the sādhaka fit to receive Śiva’s grace and the lawful fruits of devotion.

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

In Liṅga/Saguṇa-Śiva worship, the worshipper’s seat is part of the upacāras (ritual supports). A pure and properly arranged āsana stabilizes posture and attention, helping the devotee offer worship with concentration and reverence to the Śiva-liṅga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use a clean, dedicated wooden or properly spread seat for daily Śiva-pūjā and japa; sit steadily while chanting the pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and offering upacāras, maintaining purity and focus.