Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 45

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

कर्पूरवर्तिराज्याढ्या देया दीपावलिस्ततः । अर्घ्यमाचमनं देयं प्रतिवक्त्रमतः परम्

Transliteration

karpūravartirājyāḍhyā deyā dīpāvalistataḥ | arghyamācamanaṃ deyaṃ prativaktramataḥ param

Translation

Kemudian hendaklah dipersembahkan deretan pelita, kaya dengan sumbu kapur barus. Sesudah itu, arghya dan ācamanā hendaklah dipersembahkan menurut tertib, dihadapkan satu demi satu kepada setiap wajah suci (Dewa).

Word by Word

• कर्पूर-वर्ति-राज्य-आढ्या: abundant with camphor-wicks and ghee
• कर्पूर-वर्ति-राज्य-आढ्या: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्पूर (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + राज्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative Singular); तत्पुरुष: ‘rich/filled with camphor-wick and ghee’ (आढ्या = ‘abundant’); विशेषणम् of ‘दीपावलिः’

• देया: should be offered
• देया: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (विधेय/भाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देय (कृदन्त, प्रातिपदिक) < दा (धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative Singular); विधेय-विशेषण (predicative); ‘to be given/should be offered’ (gerundive)

• दीपावलिः: row/series of lamps
• दीपावलिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीपावली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative Singular)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kālādhi-karaṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रमवाचक (adverb: ‘then/thereafter’)

• अर्घ्यम्: arghya offering (water for honor)
• अर्घ्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्घ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular)

• आचमनम्: sipping water (ācamanam)
• आचमनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचमन (प्रातिपदिक) < आ-चम् (धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular)

• देयम्: should be given
• देयम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (विधेय/भाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देय (कृदन्त, प्रातिपदिक) < दा (धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular); विधेय-विशेषण (gerundive): ‘to be given’

• प्रति-वक्त्रम्: towards each face / for each mouth
• प्रति-वक्त्रम्: Deśa/Prayojana (देश/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (indeclinable adverbial): ‘towards/for each face/mouth’

• अतः: thereafter
• अतः: Kālādhi-karaṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, हेत्वर्थ/क्रमवाचक (adverb: ‘thereafter/from this’)

• परम्: next/further
• परम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular); क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbially)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Dīpa (light) and arghya/ācamana upacāras ritually ‘dispel’ obscuration (tirodhāna) for the worshipper, preparing the mind for darśana of the pañcavaktra Sadāśiva.

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion must be expressed through orderly, reverent offerings—light (dīpa) symbolizing the awakening of knowledge that dispels inner darkness, followed by respectful oblations (arghya) and purification rites (ācamana) directed toward Shiva’s sacred presence.

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

The verse describes upacāras (formal services) typical of Saguna worship offered to Shiva as present in the liṅga or a multi-aspected manifestation; “to each face” indicates honoring Shiva’s aspects while maintaining the understanding that the one Pati (Lord) is worshipped through these forms.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dīpa-dāna with camphor wicks, then offering arghya and ācamana as part of Shiva-pūjā; inwardly, one should pair the lamp-offering with steady remembrance of Shiva (japa of the Pañcākṣarī, if practiced) and a purified, attentive mind.