Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 45

तुलसी-शङ्खचूडोपाख्यानम् — Viṣṇu’s Disguise and the Tulasī Episode

Prelude to Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Fall

Devanagari script

कियत्कालं महादेवि देवपूजनसाधने । प्रधानरूपा तुलसी भविष्यति वरेण मे

Transliteration

kiyatkālaṃ mahādevi devapūjanasādhane | pradhānarūpā tulasī bhaviṣyati vareṇa me

Translation

Wahai Mahādevī, dengan anugerah yang Kuberikan, sampai bilakah Tulasī akan kekal sebagai sarana yang paling utama untuk menyempurnakan pemujaan kepada para Deva?

Word by Word

• kiyat-kālam: for how long a time
• kiyat-kālam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kiyat (सर्व/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; accusative of duration (कालावधि-द्वितीया)

• mahā-devi: O great goddess
• mahā-devi: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• deva-pūjana-sādhane: in the practice of deity-worship
• deva-pūjana-sādhane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + pūjana (प्रातिपदिक) + sādhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th), Singular; 'in the means/practice of worship of the gods'

• pradhāna-rūpā: as the principal form
• pradhāna-rūpā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pradhāna (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; predicate adjective of tulasī

• tulasī: Tulasī
• tulasī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tulasī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• bhaviṣyati: will become
• bhaviṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ (लुट्, periphrastic future), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• vareṇa: by a boon
• vareṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Singular; 'by/through a boon'

• me: of me/to me
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive/Dative (6th/4th), Singular; enclitic pronoun

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse frames Tulasī as a divinely authorized upacāra for deva-pūjā by Śiva’s vara; it functions as a ritual-authorization passage rather than a Jyotirliṅga episode.

Significance: Establishes a normative ritual medium (tulasī) as a grace-bestowed aid (anugraha) for worship, implying accessibility of devotion across varṇa/āśrama through simple offerings.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Tulasi

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that sincere bhakti becomes embodied in sacred offerings; Shiva’s boon makes Tulasī a leading support for deva-pūjā, showing that grace can sanctify a simple leaf into a powerful aid for worship.

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

In Saguna worship (including Liṅga-pūjā), specific pure offerings serve as tangible supports for devotion; this verse frames Tulasī as a divinely authorized, foremost offering-medium for worship performed with faith and purity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests devotional pūjā using sanctified offerings—especially Tulasī—performed with mantra and reverence; as a simple takeaway, offer Tulasī with focused japa (e.g., the Panchākṣarī) and a pure intention.