Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 49

आवरणपूजाविधानम् / The Procedure of Āvaraṇa (Enclosure) Worship

Devanagari script

न्यायार्जितैरपि द्रव्यैरभक्त्या पूजयेद्यदि । न तत्फलमवाप्नोति भक्तिरेवात्र कारणम्

Transliteration

nyāyārjitairapi dravyairabhaktyā pūjayedyadi | na tatphalamavāpnoti bhaktirevātra kāraṇam

Translation

ന്യായമായി സമ്പാദിച്ച ദ്രവ്യങ്ങളാൽ പോലും ഭക്തിയില്ലാതെ (ശിവനെ) പൂജിച്ചാൽ അതിന്റെ ഫലം ലഭിക്കുകയില്ല; ഇവിടെ കാരണം ഭക്തി മാത്രമാണ്.

Word by Word

• न्यायार्जितैः: with (things) acquired lawfully
• न्यायार्जितैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: न्याय + अर्जित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-आधारित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘द्रव्यैः’)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ (even/also)

• द्रव्यैः: with materials/wealth
• द्रव्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; करण (means)

• अभक्त्या: with non-devotion / without devotion
• अभक्त्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक; नञ्-पूर्वक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; करण/भाव (by lack of devotion)

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्त (conditional particle: if)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘फलम्’)

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• अवाप्नोति: attains
• अवाप्नोति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भक्तिः: devotion
• भक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्ता (subject)

• एव: alone
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण (only/indeed)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: here/in this matter)

• कारणम्: the cause
• कारणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes that inner bhakti (devotional orientation toward Pati) is the decisive factor for Śiva’s grace; external offerings without bhakti do not mature into liberating merit.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that the decisive factor in Śiva-upāsanā is inner bhakti; external correctness and even ethically earned offerings cannot yield the highest fruit without heartfelt devotion.

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

Liṅga-pūjā is not validated by the price or purity of materials alone; the Liṅga, as Saguna focus for the devotee, responds to sincerity—devotion is what makes the worship spiritually effective.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform daily Śiva-pūjā with simple offerings while maintaining steady bhāva-bhakti—support it with japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and reverent application of bhasma (tripuṇḍra) as an aid to remembrance.