Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 49

पुष्पार्पण-विनिर्णयः

Determination of Flower-Offerings to Śiva

Devanagari script

प्राजापत्यं ब्राह्मणानां कर्तव्यं च फलेप्सुभिः । गोधूमान्नैस्तथा पूजा प्रशस्ता शंकरस्य वै

Transliteration

prājāpatyaṃ brāhmaṇānāṃ kartavyaṃ ca phalepsubhiḥ | godhūmānnaistathā pūjā praśastā śaṃkarasya vai

Translation

Bagi para Brahmana yang menginginkan hasil rohani dan duniawi, laku Prājāpatya sememangnya wajib dilakukan. Demikian juga, pemujaan kepada Śaṅkara dengan persembahan makanan gandum amat dipuji.

Word by Word

• प्राजापत्यम्: the prājāpatya rite
• प्राजापत्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राजापत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (a rite/act pertaining to Prajāpati)

• ब्राह्मणानाम्: of Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• कर्तव्यम्: should be performed
• कर्तव्यम्: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्तव्य (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) < √कृ (धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण, कर्तव्यतार्थ (to be done/obligatory)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• फलेप्सुभिः: by those desiring results
• फलेप्सुभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल-इप्सु (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) < √आप्/इप्स् (धातु-अर्थ: desire)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—फलम् इप्सवः (desirers of fruit/results)

• गोधूमान्नैः: with wheat-food
• गोधूमान्नैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोधूम-अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—गोधूमस्य अन्नम् (wheat-food)

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थ (also)

• पूजा: worship
• पूजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रशस्ता: commended
• प्रशस्ता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रशस्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) < √शंस् (धातु) + प्र-
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त-विशेषण (praised/commended)

• शंकरस्य: of Śaṅkara
• शंकरस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (indeed)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Links vrata-like discipline (Prājāpatya) and specific food offerings (wheat) to desired ‘phala’—a dharmic path of regulated living that stabilizes the paśu and supports gradual purification.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It links inner discipline (a prescribed vow) with outer worship (proper offerings), teaching that purity of conduct and correct ritual support the seeker’s desired fruits and ultimately prepare the mind for Shiva’s grace.

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

Śaṅkara here is approached as Saguna Shiva through formal pūjā—offerings and observances become a concrete way to honor Shiva’s accessible form (often as the Liṅga) while cultivating steadiness and devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It recommends undertaking the Prājāpatya-type discipline (a regulated vow of restraint and purity) and performing Shiva pūjā with suitable food offerings such as wheat preparations, alongside focused devotional remembrance.