Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 12

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

Devanagari script

सर्वत्र मन्त्रं विन्यस्य वर्मणावेष्ट्य बाह्यतः । पश्चादस्त्रेण संरक्ष्य धेनुमुद्रां प्रदर्शयेत्

Transliteration

sarvatra mantraṃ vinyasya varmaṇāveṣṭya bāhyataḥ | paścādastreṇa saṃrakṣya dhenumudrāṃ pradarśayet

Translation

ସର୍ବଦିଗରେ ମନ୍ତ୍ର ବିନ୍ୟାସ କରି, ବାହ୍ୟତଃ ବର୍ମରୂପ ରକ୍ଷାକବଚରେ ନିଜକୁ ଆବେଷ୍ଟିତ କରିବ। ପରେ ଅସ୍ତ୍ର-ମନ୍ତ୍ରରେ ସୁରକ୍ଷା କରି ଧେନୁ-ମୁଦ୍ରା ପ୍ରଦର୍ଶନ କରିବ।

Word by Word

• सर्वत्र: everywhere
• सर्वत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvatra (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), स्थानवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• मन्त्रम्: the mantra
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• विन्यस्य: having placed/installed
• विन्यस्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-ni-√as (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया (prior action)

• वर्मणा: with (a) protective armor/covering
• वर्मणा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• आवेष्ट्य: having wrapped/enclosed
• आवेष्ट्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√veṣṭ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया

• बाह्यतः: externally/from outside
• बाह्यतः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bāhyatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paścāt (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• अस्त्रेण: with the weapon (astra)
• अस्त्रेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: astra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• संरक्ष्य: having protected/secured
• संरक्ष्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√rakṣ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया

• धेनुमुद्राम्: the ‘dhenu’ hand-gesture
• धेनुमुद्राम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhenu + mudrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘धेनोः मुद्रा’

• प्रदर्शयेत्: should show/demonstrate
• प्रदर्शयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√dṛś (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva-worship is not merely external offering but an inner consecration: by nyāsa, kavaca (varma), and astra-protection, the sādhaka aligns body and mind as a purified vessel, removing obstacles (pāśa) so devotion can rest in Pati (Śiva).

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

Before approaching the Liṅga (Saguna Śiva), the devotee ritually establishes the mantra’s presence and seals the space/body with protective rites, indicating that Liṅga-pūjā is performed within a sanctified field where Śiva’s grace and guardianship are invoked.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It indicates a pūjā-preparatory sequence: perform mantra-nyāsa, apply a kavaca/varma visualization, use the astra-mantra for protection, and conclude with Dhenu-mudrā to seal and stabilize the rite.