Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 19

शिवाश्रम-नित्यनैमित्तिककर्मविधिः / Śaiva Āśrama-Duties: Daily and Occasional Rites

Morning Purity & Bath Procedure

Devanagari script

आपोहिष्ठादिभिर्मन्त्रैः शेषमाघ्राय वै जलम् । वामनासापुटेनैव देवं संभावयेत्सितम्

Transliteration

āpohiṣṭhādibhirmantraiḥ śeṣamāghrāya vai jalam | vāmanāsāpuṭenaiva devaṃ saṃbhāvayetsitam

Translation

Em seguida, com os mantras que começam por “Āpo hi ṣṭhā…”, deve-se inalar suavemente a água restante; e, apenas pela narina esquerda, contemplar e invocar com firmeza o Senhor Śiva, auspicioso e radiante.

Word by Word

• āpo-hiṣṭha-ādibhiḥ: with (the) ‘Āpo hiṣṭhā…’ etc.
• āpo-hiṣṭha-ādibhiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āpo-hiṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक/मन्त्रनाम) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; अव्ययीभावः—'आपोहिṣṭha' इत्यादि (etc.)

• mantraiḥ: with mantras
• mantraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• śeṣam: the remainder
• śeṣam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• āghrāya: having smelled
• āghrāya: Kriyā (क्रिया/Preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√ghrā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), having smelled; upasarga: ā

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle/emphasis (निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय)

• jalam: water
• jalam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• vāma-nāsā-puṭena: with the left nostril-cavity
• vāma-nāsā-puṭena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāma (प्रातिपदिक) + nāsā (प्रातिपदिक) + puṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; समासः—वामायाः नासायाः पुṭaḥ

• eva: only/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय)

• devam: the deity
• devam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• saṃbhāvayet: should contemplate/visualize
• saṃbhāvayet: Kriyā (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√bhū (धातु) (causative √bhū → bhāvayati)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); causative (णिच्) with upasarga sam-

• sitam: white
• sitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; विशेषणम्—(देवम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s ritual and yogic procedure to the sages at Naimisharanya, in the Vāyavīya Saṃhitā context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Integrates Vaidika āpaḥ-śuddhi with Śaiva invocation: the sādhaka internalizes purity and then ‘brings near’ (saṃbhāvayet) the auspicious Lord—an anugraha-oriented moment.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: āpohi ṣṭhā mayo bhuvaḥ ... (Āpo hi ṣṭhā mantras)

Type: rudram

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It links outer purity (sanctifying and ritually using water with Vedic mantras) to inner purity (directing prāṇa and attention to Śiva), showing that worship culminates in contemplative invocation of Pati, the Lord who grants grace and liberation.

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

The verse describes a procedural aid to Saguna worship: after mantra-purified water is used, the devotee internalizes the act by meditating on the ‘radiant Lord’—a movement from external upacāra toward inward presence of Śiva, the very reality signified by the Liṅga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Recitation of the ‘Āpo hi ṣṭhā…’ water-mantras followed by a gentle inhalation/sniffing of the remaining sanctified water, and a focused contemplation/invocation of Śiva through the left nostril—an austere, pranayama-adjacent meditative step within worship.