Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 11

स्कन्दसरः (Skandasara) — तीर्थवर्णनम् / Description of the Skandasara Sacred Lake

Devanagari script

देवाद्यमृषिमध्यं च निर्वर्त्य पितृतर्पणम् । निवेदयेदभिज्ञेभ्यो नित्यस्नानगतान् द्विजान्

Transliteration

devādyamṛṣimadhyaṃ ca nirvartya pitṛtarpaṇam | nivedayedabhijñebhyo nityasnānagatān dvijān

Translation

Setelah melaksanakan tarpaṇa dengan sempurna—mula-mula kepada para Deva, kemudian di tengah para Ṛṣi, dan juga kepada para Pitṛ—hendaklah seseorang memaklumkan kepada para dvija yang berilmu, yang telah selesai mandi harian (dan layak diundang bagi upacara).

Word by Word

• देव-आदि-ऋषि-मध्यम्: (the rite) with gods first and sages in the middle
• देव-आदि-ऋषि-मध्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देव + आदि + ऋषि + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण; विग्रहः: देवाः आदौ, ऋषयः मध्ये यस्य तत् (having gods at the beginning and sages in the middle)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• निर्वर्त्य: having performed
• निर्वर्त्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्+वृत् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive): ‘having performed/completed’

• पितृतर्पणम्: offering of satisfaction to the ancestors (pitṛ-tarpaṇa)
• पितृतर्पणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ + तर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; विग्रहः: पितॄणां तर्पणम्

• निवेदयेत्: should announce/offer/inform
• निवेदयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि+विद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अभिज्ञेभ्यः: to the knowledgeable (persons)
• अभिज्ञेभ्यः: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), बहुवचन

• नित्यस्नानगतान्: those engaged in daily bathing
• नित्यस्नानगतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित्य + स्नान + गत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषण; विग्रहः: नित्यं स्नानं गतान् (those who have gone for daily bath / engaged in daily bathing)

• द्विजान्: twice-born (brahmins)
• द्विजान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Procedural dharma: tarpaṇa sequence (Deva–Ṛṣi–Pitṛ) as part of daily/occasional rites before inviting qualified dvijas; not tied to a specific Jyotirliṅga.

Significance: Frames Śaiva worship within broader Vaidika order; correct tarpaṇa and invitation of competent priests sustains ritual continuity and merit.

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Rishis
• Pitrs

FAQs

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

It teaches ritual purity and right order: honoring Devas, Ṛṣis, and Pitṛs through tarpaṇa cultivates gratitude and dharmic alignment, which supports Shaiva worship and steadies the mind for devotion to Pati (Shiva).

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

In Shaiva practice, Linga worship is strengthened by preparatory disciplines—snāna, tarpaṇa, and inviting qualified officiants—so the devotee approaches Saguna Shiva with cleanliness, humility, and proper observance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform tarpaṇa in the prescribed sequence after daily snāna, then invite knowledgeable dvijas for the rite; as an inner complement, maintain japa and mental purity so outer offerings reflect sincere devotion.