Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 52

गणेशाभिषेक-वरदान-विधानम् | Gaṇeśa’s Consecration, Boons, and Prescribed Worship

Devanagari script

स्त्रीद्वयं च तथा चात्र बटुकद्वयमादरात् । भोजयेत्पूजयित्वा वै मूर्त्यग्रे विधिपूर्वकम्

Transliteration

strīdvayaṃ ca tathā cātra baṭukadvayamādarāt | bhojayetpūjayitvā vai mūrtyagre vidhipūrvakam

Translation

ଏଠାରେ ଆଦରସହ ଦୁଇ ନାରୀଙ୍କୁ ଏବଂ ସେପରି ଦୁଇ ବଟୁକଙ୍କୁ, ମୂର୍ତ୍ତି ସମ୍ମୁଖରେ ବିଧିପୂର୍ବକ ପ୍ରଥମେ ପୂଜା କରି, ପରେ ଭୋଜନ କରାଇବା ଉଚିତ।

Word by Word

• स्त्री-द्वयम्: two women
• स्त्री-द्वयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (two women)

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

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: रीति/प्रकार-अव्यय (adverb: in that manner/likewise)

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

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देश-अव्यय (locative adverb: here)

• बटुक-द्वयम्: two boys (batukas)
• बटुक-द्वयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बटुक (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (two boys/novices)

• आदरात्: with reverence
• आदरात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन; हेतौ/कारणे (from/with reverence)

• भोजयेत्: should feed
• भोजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु) [णिच् causative: भोजय-]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; णिजन्त-प्रयोगः (cause to eat/feed)

• पूजयित्वा: having worshipped
• पूजयित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; पूर्वक्रिया (having worshipped)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/उपपादक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• मूर्ति-अग्रे: before the image (idol)
• मूर्ति-अग्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (in front of the idol/form)

• विधि-पूर्वकम्: according to the prescribed rite
• विधि-पूर्वकम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; क्रियाविशेषणम् (according to rule/procedure)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating the prescribed rite to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General udyāpana etiquette: honoring women and batukas before the deity’s mūrti and then feeding them; reflects dharmic recognition of śakti/śrī and brahmacarya as auspicious supports of rite.

Significance: Frames service to living embodiments of auspiciousness (strī) and purity/learning (batuka) as integral to Śiva-vrata completion, converting worship into compassionate social rite.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Gaurī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that true Śiva-bhakti is not only mantra and offering to the mūrti, but also reverent service to living embodiments of auspiciousness—honoring and feeding them as an extension of worship, which purifies the worshipper and supports dharma.

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

The instruction is performed “before the mūrti,” emphasizing Saguna Śiva worship: after establishing devotion through proper vidhi at the sacred form (liṅga/mūrti), the merit of worship is completed by honoring guests/devotees, reflecting Śiva’s grace manifest in the world.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical rite is indicated: perform vidhi-pūrvaka pūjā before Śiva’s form, then respectfully honor (pūjā) and feed (bhojana) two women and two batukas as part of the observance—an act of devotional service (sevā) that seals the worship’s fruit.