Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 46

पूजाविधिः

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

Devanagari script

पश्चाच्चैवार्घपात्रेण क्षारयेल्लिंगमुत्तमम् । अनन्यमानसो भूत्वा पूजाद्रव्यं निधाय च

Transliteration

paścāccaivārghapātreṇa kṣārayelliṃgamuttamam | ananyamānaso bhūtvā pūjādravyaṃ nidhāya ca

Translation

അതിനുശേഷം അർഘ്യപാത്രംകൊണ്ട് ഉത്തമ ലിംഗത്തെ യഥാവിധി ശുദ്ധീകരിക്കണം. പിന്നെ ഏകാഗ്രചിത്തനായി പൂജാദ്രവ്യങ്ങൾ വെച്ച് ക്രമമായി വിന്യസിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (afterwards)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• एव: indeed
• एव: अवधारण (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण

• अर्घ-पात्रेण: with the argha-vessel
• अर्घ-पात्रेण: करण (करणकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्घ (प्रातिपदिक) + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—अर्घस्य पात्रम्

• क्षारयेत्: should wash/cleanse (with alkaline water)
• क्षारयेत्: क्रिया (आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षारय् (धातु) [नामधातु from क्षार]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• लिङ्गम्: the liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: कर्म (कर्मकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उत्तमम्: excellent/supreme
• उत्तमम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying लिङ्गम्)

• अनन्य-मानसः: with undivided mind
• अनन्य-मानसः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of agent)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्य (प्रातिपदिक) + मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—अनन्यं मानसं यस्य सः (one whose mind is undistracted)

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: पूर्वकालक्रिया (पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव

• पूजा-द्रव्यम्: worship materials
• पूजा-द्रव्यम्: कर्म (कर्मकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक) + द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—पूजायाः द्रव्यम्

• निधाय: having placed/kept
• निधाय: पूर्वकालक्रिया (पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; उपसर्गः—नि

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating Shiva’s worship procedure to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that outer purification (cleansing the Liṅga) must be joined with inner purification—an undivided, one-pointed mind—so worship becomes a direct act of devotion to Pati (Śiva) rather than mere ritual.

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

The Liṅga is the accessible Saguna focus for devotion; cleansing it and arranging offerings expresses reverence and readiness to approach Śiva through a concrete sacred form while remembering His supreme nature.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform a careful ablution/cleansing using the arghya vessel, then proceed with orderly placement of pūjā items while maintaining ananya-manas (single-pointed attention), ideally supported by japa such as “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”