Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 4

पूजास्थानशुद्धिः पात्रशोधनं च — Purification of the Worship-Space and Preparation of Ritual Vessels

Devanagari script

प्रोक्षणीमर्ध्यपात्रं च पाद्यपात्रमतः परम् । तथैवाचमनीयस्य पात्रं चेति चतुष्टयम्

Transliteration

prokṣaṇīmardhyapātraṃ ca pādyapātramataḥ param | tathaivācamanīyasya pātraṃ ceti catuṣṭayam

Translation

Hendaklah dia menyusun empat bejana upacara: senduk pemercik, bejana untuk arghya, kemudian bejana untuk membasuh kaki (pādya), dan demikian juga bejana untuk ācamanīya (air untuk menyucikan dengan meneguk)—itulah satu set empat.

Word by Word

• प्रोक्षणीम्: sprinkling spoon/ladle
• प्रोक्षणीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रोक्षणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• अर्ध्य-पात्रम्: vessel for arghya-offering
• अर्ध्य-पात्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्ध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अर्ध्यस्य पात्रम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पाद्य-पात्रम्: vessel for foot-washing water
• पाद्य-पात्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद्य (प्रातिपदिक) + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पाद्यस्य पात्रम्)

• अतः: thereafter/then
• अतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अर्थे—‘ततः/अस्मात्’ (thereafter/from this)

• परम्: next/further
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying the next item)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• आचमनीयस्य: of the sipping-water (ācamanīya)
• आचमनीयस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचमनीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• पात्रम्: vessel
• पात्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्ति-अव्यय (quotative/marker)

• चतुष्टयम्: a set of four
• चतुष्टयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुष्टय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes śaucā (ritual purity) and reverent hospitality in worship—approaching Lord Shiva as Pati with orderly offerings that refine the devotee’s intention and attention.

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

It gives practical requirements for Linga-pūjā: specific vessels for sprinkling and offerings (arghya, pādya, ācamanīya), reflecting Saguna upāsanā where devotion is expressed through precise, sanctifying acts.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prepare the four vessels before pūjā and perform prokṣaṇa (sanctifying sprinkling) with mindful ācamanam; this supports steadiness for mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”