Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 18

षडध्व-शुद्धिः

Purification of the Six Adhvans / Sixfold Cosmic Path

Devanagari script

कृत्वा शिवानलैर्होमं प्रारभेत्यथा पुरा । यदर्धं पायसं पूर्वं होमार्थं परिकल्पितम्

Transliteration

kṛtvā śivānalairhomaṃ prārabhetyathā purā | yadardhaṃ pāyasaṃ pūrvaṃ homārthaṃ parikalpitam

Translation

ശിവാഗ്നിയിൽ ഹോമം നടത്തി പിന്നെ മുൻപുപോലെ ക്രമം ആരംഭിക്കണം. മുമ്പ് ഹോമാർത്ഥമായി വേർതിരിച്ചിരുന്ന പായസത്തിന്റെ പകുതി ഹോമത്തിൽ ഉപയോഗിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); ‘having done’

• शिवानलैः: with the Śiva-fires
• शिवानलैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + अनल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (शिवः अनलः = Śiva-fire; by the Śiva-fires)

• होमम्: homa (fire-offering)
• होमम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्रारभेत्: should begin
• प्रारभेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; उपसर्ग: प्र-; आत्मनेपद

• यथा: as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारार्थक-अव्यय (as/according to)

• पुरा: formerly/before
• पुरा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण/Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time: formerly)

• यत्: which/that
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• अर्धम्: half/portion
• अर्धम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• पायसम्: rice-pudding/oblation of milk-rice
• पायसम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पायस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• पूर्वम्: previously/beforehand
• पूर्वम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण/Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभूत-नपुंसक एकवचन (adverbial accusative: beforehand)

• होमार्थम्: for the purpose of homa
• होमार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुष (होमाय अर्थः = for the sake of homa)

• परिकल्पितम्: prepared/arranged
• परिकल्पितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of pāyasa/ardha)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कॢप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; उपसर्ग: परि-

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined, rule-based Śiva-upāsanā: offerings are not random but consecrated and apportioned, so the devotee’s intention (bhakti) is carried through correct ritual order, purifying the mind for Śiva’s grace.

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

The ‘Śiva-fire’ and homa are external supports for saguna worship—visible acts that focus devotion toward Śiva. In Shaiva Siddhanta, such karmic worship, when done with right understanding, becomes a means for inner purification leading toward realization of Pati (Śiva).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to performing Śiva-homa with a properly consecrated fire and using a pre-designated naivedya portion (pāyasa) as āhuti. Practically, it implies maintaining purity, following sequence, and mentally offering the act to Śiva—often alongside japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).