Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 65

पूजाविधिः

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

Devanagari script

बिल्वपत्रार्पणेनैव सर्वपूजा प्रसिध्यति । ततस्सुगंधचूर्णं वै वासितं तैलमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

bilvapatrārpaṇenaiva sarvapūjā prasidhyati | tatassugaṃdhacūrṇaṃ vai vāsitaṃ tailamuttamam

Translation

केवळ बिल्वपत्र अर्पणानेच सर्व पूजा सिद्ध होते. त्यानंतर सुगंधी चूर्ण व उत्तम सुवासित तेल अर्पण करावे.

Word by Word

• bilva-patra-arpaṇena: by offering bilva leaves
• bilva-patra-arpaṇena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bilva (प्रातिपदिक) + patra (प्रातिपदिक) + arpaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः: ‘बिल्वपत्रस्य अर्पणम्’ → ‘बिल्वपत्रार्पणम्’

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (particle: only/indeed)

• sarva-pūjā: all worship
• sarva-pūjā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + pūjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘सर्वा पूजा’ (all worship)

• prasidhyati: is accomplished/succeeds
• prasidhyati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-sidh (सिध्-धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present indicative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रमवाचक अव्यय (thereafter)

• sugandha-cūrṇam: fragrant powder
• sugandha-cūrṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su-gandha (प्रातिपदिक) + cūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: ‘सुगन्धं चूर्णम्’

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• vāsitam: perfumed
• vāsitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāsita (वास्-धातु caus./perf.part., कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘tailam’ इत्यस्य विशेषण; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (perf. passive participle): ‘perfumed/scented’

• tailam: oil
• tailam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: taila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• uttamam: excellent/best
• uttamam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘tailam’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Śiva-pūjā injunctions to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Teaches pūjā-sāphalya through a single essential offering (bilva), then elaborates optional refinements (gandha, taila), reflecting graded accessibility for householders and ascetics alike.

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that sincere bhakti expressed through the bilva-leaf offering is so dear to Śiva that it can complete the essence of worship; additional fragrant offerings then refine the upacāras (devotional services) performed to the Lord.

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

The verse supports Saguna-Śiva worship through the Liṅga by prescribing tangible offerings (bilva leaves, fragrance, oil). In Śaiva Siddhānta, such upacāras purify the devotee’s intention and direct love toward Pati (Śiva) through a sacred form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Offer bilva leaves with focused devotion (ideally while repeating the Pañcākṣara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and then offer fragrant powder and perfumed oil as part of the pūjā upacāras to deepen reverence and one-pointedness.