Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20

पूजाविधिः

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

Devanagari script

यथायोग्यं पुनर्ग्राह्यं मृगचर्मादिकं च यत् । तत्रोपविश्य कुर्वीत त्रिपुंड्रं भस्मना सुधीः

Transliteration

yathāyogyaṃ punargrāhyaṃ mṛgacarmādikaṃ ca yat | tatropaviśya kurvīta tripuṃḍraṃ bhasmanā sudhīḥ

Translation

പിന്നീട് യഥായോഗ്യം മൃഗചർമ്മാദി അനുയോജ്യമായ ആസനം വീണ്ടും സ്വീകരിക്കണം. അതിൽ ഇരുന്ന്, സുധീ ഭക്തൻ ഭസ്മംകൊണ്ട് ത്രിപുണ്ഡ്രം ധരിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• यथा-योग्यम्: as appropriate
• यथा-योग्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + योग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: as appropriate)

• पुनः: again/further
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: again/further)

• ग्राह्यम्: to be taken/acceptable
• ग्राह्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु) → ग्राह्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; यत् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्; gerundive (ण्यम्/यत्) sense 'to be taken/acceptable'

• मृग-चर्म-आदिकम्: deerskin and the like
• मृग-चर्म-आदिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग (प्रातिपदिक) + चर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'etc.' compound; object set referred by यत्

• च: and
• च: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction: and)

• यत्: whatever (that)
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; relative pronoun; 'whatever'

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb: there)

• उपविश्य: having sat down
• उपविश्य: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); 'having sat down'

• कुर्वीत: should perform
• कुर्वीत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; 'should do/perform'

• त्रिपुण्ड्रम्: the tripuṇḍra (three ash lines)
• त्रिपुण्ड्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + पुण्ड्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; accusative singular neuter

• भस्मना: with ash
• भस्मना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; instrumental singular neuter

• सुधीः: the wise person
• सुधीः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative singular masculine

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating Śiva’s ritual injunctions to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Tripuṇḍra-bhasma marks function as Śaiva identity and a constant reminder of impermanence (bhasma) and Rudra’s lordship over bound beings; supports inner recollection during worship.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches disciplined preparation for Śiva-upāsanā: taking a pure, proper seat and wearing bhasma as Tripuṇḍra, an outward sign of inner renunciation and alignment with Śiva-tattva (Pati), supporting steadiness of mind for worship and liberation-oriented practice.

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

Tripuṇḍra-dhāraṇa and sitting on a prescribed āsana are classic preliminaries for Linga-pūjā. By honoring these ritual markers, the devotee approaches Saguna Śiva (as Linga and Lord) with purity, reverence, and focused intent.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Sit on a suitable āsana (e.g., deerskin) and apply Tripuṇḍra with bhasma before beginning Śiva worship—supporting concentration, purity, and a Shaiva devotional identity.