Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 12

पूजाविधिः

Pūjā-vidhiḥ) — The Supreme Procedure of Worship (Morning Observances

Devanagari script

तैलाभ्यंगं च कुर्वीत वारान्दृष्ट्वा क्रमेण च । नित्यमभ्यंगके चैव वासितं वा न दूषितम्

Transliteration

tailābhyaṃgaṃ ca kurvīta vārāndṛṣṭvā krameṇa ca | nityamabhyaṃgake caiva vāsitaṃ vā na dūṣitam

Translation

କ୍ରମେ ନିର୍ଦ୍ଧାରିତ ବାରଗୁଡ଼ିକୁ ଦେଖି ତୈଳାଭ୍ୟଙ୍ଗ କରିବା ଉଚିତ। ନିତ୍ୟ ଅଭ୍ୟଙ୍ଗରେ ବ୍ୟବହୃତ ଓ ସୁଗନ୍ଧିତ ଦ୍ରବ୍ୟ ମଧ୍ୟ ଅଶୁଦ୍ଧ ନୁହେଁ।

Word by Word

• तैल-अभ्यङ्गम्: oil massage/anointing
• तैल-अभ्यङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तैल (प्रातिपदिक) + अभ्यङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (तैलेन अभ्यङ्गः/तैलस्य अभ्यङ्गः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Accusative singular

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

• कुर्वीत: should perform
• कुर्वीत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद — ‘should do/perform’

• वारान्: days (weekdays)
• वारान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Accusative plural

• दृष्ट्वा: having considered
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकालः)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive) — ‘having seen/considered’

• क्रमेण: in due order/sequence
• क्रमेण: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Instrumental singular (adverbial: in order)

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

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-द्वितीया-एकवचन (adverbial accusative) — ‘always’

• अभ्यङ्गके: in/at the (act of) anointing/massage
• अभ्यङ्गके: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभ्यङ्गक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Locative singular

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

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphasis)

• वासितम्: perfumed/scented
• वासितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वा-सम्/वास् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past passive participle) नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — ‘perfumed/scented’ (used predicatively)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• दूषितम्: defiled/spoiled
• दूषितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दूष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past passive participle) नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — ‘spoiled/defiled’ (used predicatively)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shaiva dharma and ritual purity to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that disciplined bodily care, done according to scriptural order, supports inner purity and steadiness for Shiva-bhakti; routine anointing and fragrance are not treated as spiritual defilement when used rightly.

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

In Saguna Shiva worship, the devotee maintains śauca (ritual cleanliness) and regulated habits so the body-mind becomes fit for Linga-pūjā, japa, and dhyāna; this verse clarifies what daily-use items are acceptable and non-polluting.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A regulated dinacharya that includes abhyanga (oil-massage) on appropriate days, supporting cleanliness before practices like applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma), wearing Rudraksha, and doing Panchakshara mantra japa.