Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 72

पूजास्थानशुद्धिः पात्रशोधनं च — Purification of the Worship-Space and Preparation of Ritual Vessels

Devanagari script

परेद्युश्शक्तितो दत्त्वा सुवर्णाद्यं शिवाय च । शिवभक्ताय वा कृत्वा महापूजां शुचिर्भवेत्

Transliteration

paredyuśśaktito dattvā suvarṇādyaṃ śivāya ca | śivabhaktāya vā kṛtvā mahāpūjāṃ śucirbhavet

Translation

അടുത്ത ദിവസം കഴിവനുസരിച്ച് സ്വർണ്ണാദികൾ ശിവനു സമർപ്പിച്ച്, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ശിവഭക്തനു ദാനം നൽകി, തുടർന്ന് മഹാപൂജ നടത്തുകയാൽ ശുദ്ധി ലഭിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• पर-द्युः: on the next day
• पर-द्युः: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + द्युः (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययार्थ)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; अव्यय; कालवाचक (on the next day)

• शक्ति-तः: according to one’s capacity
• शक्ति-तः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb); ‘according to ability’

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having given’

• सुवर्ण-आद्यम्: gold and the like
• सुवर्ण-आद्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सुवर्णं आदिः यस्य/सुवर्णादि)

• शिवाय: to Śiva
• शिवाय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान/Dative), एकवचन

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

• शिव-भक्ताय: to a devotee of Śiva
• शिव-भक्ताय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्त (भज् धातु, क्त; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य भक्तः)

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्प (disjunctive particle)

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having done/performed’

• महा-पूजाम्: great worship
• महा-पूजाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (महती पूजा)

• शुचिः: pure
• शुचिः: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेयविशेषण (predicate adjective)

• भवेत्: would become/should become
• भवेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Dāna (charitable gifting) to Śiva or to a Śiva-bhakta, followed by mahāpūjā, is presented as a purifier (śuddhi) and merit-enhancer; aligns with the Siddhānta emphasis that right action and worship prepare the paśu for Śiva’s grace (anugraha).

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that inner and outer purity arises from bhakti expressed through both worship (mahāpūjā) and selfless giving (dāna) done within one’s means—an essential Shaiva discipline that loosens bondage (pāśa) and turns the soul (paśu) toward the Lord (Pati).

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

Mahāpūjā implies formal Saguna worship—commonly of Śiva as the Liṅga—supported by offerings. The verse also states that giving to Śiva’s devotee is an extension of Liṅga-worship, because service to the Lord’s bhakta is treated as service to Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is: after a vow or observance, perform a full Śiva-pūjā (mahāpūjā) and add dāna according to capacity—optionally to a Śiva-bhakta—while maintaining śauca (cleanliness/purity) and a devotional mind (bhāva).