Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20

पूजाविधिः

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

Devanagari script

यथायोग्यं पुनर्ग्राह्यं मृगचर्मादिकं च यत् । तत्रोपविश्य कुर्वीत त्रिपुंड्रं भस्मना सुधीः

Transliteration

yathāyogyaṃ punargrāhyaṃ mṛgacarmādikaṃ ca yat | tatropaviśya kurvīta tripuṃḍraṃ bhasmanā sudhīḥ

Translation

Kemudian, menurut yang wajar, si bijaksana hendaklah mengambil semula āsana yang sesuai—seperti kulit rusa dan seumpamanya. Setelah duduk di situ, hendaklah ia menyapukan Tripuṇḍra dengan abu suci (bhasma).

Word by Word

• यथा-योग्यम्: as appropriate
• यथा-योग्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + योग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: as appropriate)

• पुनः: again/further
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: again/further)

• ग्राह्यम्: to be taken/acceptable
• ग्राह्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु) → ग्राह्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; यत् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्; gerundive (ण्यम्/यत्) sense 'to be taken/acceptable'

• मृग-चर्म-आदिकम्: deerskin and the like
• मृग-चर्म-आदिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग (प्रातिपदिक) + चर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'etc.' compound; object set referred by यत्

• च: and
• च: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction: and)

• यत्: whatever (that)
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; relative pronoun; 'whatever'

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb: there)

• उपविश्य: having sat down
• उपविश्य: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); 'having sat down'

• कुर्वीत: should perform
• कुर्वीत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; 'should do/perform'

• त्रिपुण्ड्रम्: the tripuṇḍra (three ash lines)
• त्रिपुण्ड्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + पुण्ड्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; accusative singular neuter

• भस्मना: with ash
• भस्मना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; instrumental singular neuter

• सुधीः: the wise person
• सुधीः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative singular masculine

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating Śiva’s ritual injunctions to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Tripuṇḍra-bhasma marks function as Śaiva identity and a constant reminder of impermanence (bhasma) and Rudra’s lordship over bound beings; supports inner recollection during worship.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches disciplined preparation for Śiva-upāsanā: taking a pure, proper seat and wearing bhasma as Tripuṇḍra, an outward sign of inner renunciation and alignment with Śiva-tattva (Pati), supporting steadiness of mind for worship and liberation-oriented practice.

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

Tripuṇḍra-dhāraṇa and sitting on a prescribed āsana are classic preliminaries for Linga-pūjā. By honoring these ritual markers, the devotee approaches Saguna Śiva (as Linga and Lord) with purity, reverence, and focused intent.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Sit on a suitable āsana (e.g., deerskin) and apply Tripuṇḍra with bhasma before beginning Śiva worship—supporting concentration, purity, and a Shaiva devotional identity.