Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 33

मन्त्रसिद्धिः, प्रतिबन्धनिरासः, श्रद्धा-नियमाः

Mantra Efficacy, Removal of Obstacles, and the Role of Faith/Discipline

Devanagari script

पलावरः स्यादालेप एकादशपलोत्तरः । सुवर्णरत्नपुष्पाणि शुभानि सुरभीणि च

Transliteration

palāvaraḥ syādālepa ekādaśapalottaraḥ | suvarṇaratnapuṣpāṇi śubhāni surabhīṇi ca

Translation

Que o unguento para ungir o emblema sagrado (Liṅga) seja na medida chamada palāvara, acrescida de onze palas; e que se ofereçam ouro, gemas e flores — auspiciosas e fragrantes também.

Word by Word

• पलावरः: less than a pala
• पलावरः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pala-avara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पलस्य अवरः = 'less than a pala'), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); विधेय-विशेषण (predicative)

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• आलेपः: smearing/paste (application)
• आलेपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ālepa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• एकादश: eleven
• एकादश: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ekādaśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक (numeral), अव्ययवत्/विशेषणरूपेण (used adjectivally), समासाङ्ग (member of compound)

• पल: pala (a weight measure)
• पल: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), समासाङ्ग (member of compound)

• उत्तरः: more/greater (by)
• उत्तरः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); समस्तपदस्य विधेय-विशेषण (predicative for the compound)

• सुवर्ण: gold
• सुवर्ण: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suvarṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), समासाङ्ग (member of compound)

• रत्न: jewel
• रत्न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), समासाङ्ग (member of compound)

• पुष्पाणि: flowers (of gold and jewels)
• पुष्पाणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (सुवर्ण + रत्न + पुष्प), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), बहुवचन (plural)

• शुभानि: auspicious/beautiful
• शुभानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), बहुवचन (plural); विशेषण (qualifier of पुष्पाणि)

• सुरभीणि: fragrant
• सुरभीणि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: surabhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), बहुवचन (plural); विशेषण (qualifier of पुष्पाणि)

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: This verse is part of a general Śiva-liṅga pūjā-vidhi (ritual prescription) rather than a site-specific Jyotirliṅga māhātmya; it frames offerings as instruments for pleasing Śiva and ripening the devotee’s eligibility for grace (anugraha).

Significance: General merit of liṅga-upacāra: purification of the bound soul (paśu) through disciplined offering and devotion, culminating in Śiva’s favor.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined, pure, and auspicious upacāras in Śiva worship—outer offerings (fragrant unguents, flowers, precious items) express inner bhakti and reverence toward Pati (Śiva), helping the devotee cultivate śuddhi (purity) and steadiness of devotion.

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

By prescribing ālepa (smearing/unctuous application) and offerings to the sacred emblem, the verse supports Saguna worship of Śiva through the Liṅga—approaching the transcendent Nirguna reality by concrete, sanctified ritual forms.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Liṅga-pūjā with fragrant ālepa and offer surabhi (fragrant) flowers; accompany the rite with focused mantra-japa (such as the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to unite external worship with inward contemplation.