Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 24

आवरणपूजाविधानम् / The Procedure of Āvaraṇa (Enclosure) Worship

Devanagari script

कपिलासम्भवं शम्भोरिष्टं स्नाने च पानके । आसनानि च भद्राणि गजदंतमयानि च

Transliteration

kapilāsambhavaṃ śambhoriṣṭaṃ snāne ca pānake | āsanāni ca bhadrāṇi gajadaṃtamayāni ca

Translation

ശംഭുവിന് സ്നാനത്തിലും ആചമനത്തിലും കപിലാ പശുവിൽ നിന്നുള്ള ദ്രവ്യം പ്രിയമാണ്. അതുപോലെ മംഗളകരമായ ആസനങ്ങളും, ആനക്കൊമ്പിൽ നിർമ്മിതമായതായാലും, സമർപ്പിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• कपिला-सम्भवम्: arising from a tawny cow (kapilā)
• कपिला-सम्भवम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कपिला + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कपिलायाः सम्भवः)

• शम्भोः: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• इष्टम्: dear/pleasing
• इष्टम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) from √इष्/√यज् sense ‘desired/pleasing’

• स्नाने: in bathing
• स्नाने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

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

• पानके: in drinking (beverage/refreshment)
• पानके: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पानक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• आसनानि: seats
• आसनानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

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

• भद्राणि: auspicious, fine
• भद्राणि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• गज-दन्त-मयानि: made of elephant ivory
• गज-दन्त-मयानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गज + दन्त + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गजदन्तस्य मयः = made of elephant-ivory)

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

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames ideal upacāras (services) to Śiva—purity and auspiciousness in offerings are themselves merit-bearing and support temple/home worship.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that devotion expresses itself through sāttvika, purity-oriented offerings—especially those connected with the kapilā cow—used in Śiva’s abhiṣeka and sanctified consumption, reflecting reverence for Pati (Śiva) through disciplined worship.

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

The verse points to concrete upacāras (services) used in saguna worship—bathing the Liṅga (snāna/abhiṣeka) and offering sanctified substances—by which the devotee approaches the transcendent Śiva through a worshipful form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests abhiṣeka with auspicious cow-derived substances (commonly milk/curd/ghee) and proper upacāras like offering a clean, auspicious āsana; internally, it supports a bhakti attitude of purity and steadiness while repeating Śiva-mantra (e.g., the Pañcākṣarī).