Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 55

मन्त्रसिद्धिः, प्रतिबन्धनिरासः, श्रद्धा-नियमाः

Mantra Efficacy, Removal of Obstacles, and the Role of Faith/Discipline

Devanagari script

बिल्वपत्रैस्तु हवनं शत्रोर्विजयदं तथा । समिधः शांतिकार्येषु पालाशखदिरादिकाः

Transliteration

bilvapatraistu havanaṃ śatrorvijayadaṃ tathā | samidhaḥ śāṃtikāryeṣu pālāśakhadirādikāḥ

Translation

बिल्वपत्रांनी केलेला हवन शत्रूवर विजय देतो. आणि शांतिकर्मात पलाश, खदिर इत्यादी समिधा योग्य मानल्या आहेत।

Word by Word

• बिल्वपत्रैः: with bilva leaves
• बिल्वपत्रैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बिल्व + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; Tatpuruṣa: बिल्वस्य पत्राणि; Instr plural

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात; particle (but/indeed)

• हवनम्: offering (homa)
• हवनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; Neuter Nom/Acc singular

• शत्रोः: of the enemy
• शत्रोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; Masculine, Gen singular

• विजयदम्: granting victory
• विजयदम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विजय + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; Tatpuruṣa: विजयम् ददाति इति; agrees with हवनम्

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; adverb (likewise)

• समिधः: kindling-sticks
• समिधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समिध् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; Feminine, Nom plural

• शान्तिकार्येषु: in pacificatory rites
• शान्तिकार्येषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शान्ति + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन; Tatpuruṣa: शान्तेः कार्याणि; Loc plural

• पालाशखदिरादिकाः: (made of) palāśa, khadira, etc.
• पालाशखदिरादिकाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पालाश + खदिर + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; Dvandva with 'ādi' (etc.): पालाशाः खदिराः आदयः; agrees with समिधः

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that Shaiva ritual acts are not random: specific sacred materials (bilva leaves, prescribed samidh woods) are chosen to harmonize the practitioner’s intention—victory over hostile forces and pacification—under Shiva’s grace, transforming conflict into dharmic order.

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

Bilva is a foremost offering in Saguna Shiva worship, commonly placed on the Linga; here, the same Shaiva sanctity extends into homa, indicating that offerings dear to Shiva, when made with right method, become vehicles for His anugraha (grace) in worldly and spiritual aims.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests performing a Shaiva homa using bilva leaves for victory-oriented intent, and using palāśa/khadira-type samidh for śānti rites—ideally alongside Shiva-mantra japa (such as the Panchakshara) to keep the action inwardly surrendered to Pati (Shiva).