Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 37

मन्त्रसिद्धिः, प्रतिबन्धनिरासः, श्रद्धा-नियमाः

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

Devanagari script

पाटलोत्पलपद्माद्यैः पानीयं च सुगन्धितम् । पञ्चसौगंधिकोपेतं तांबूलं च सुसंस्कृतम्

Transliteration

pāṭalotpalapadmādyaiḥ pānīyaṃ ca sugandhitam | pañcasaugaṃdhikopetaṃ tāṃbūlaṃ ca susaṃskṛtam

Translation

Ofereceram água de beber perfumada, aromatizada com flores de pāṭala, lótus azuis e flores de lótus; e também apresentaram tāmbūla (betel) bem preparado, dotado das cinco fragrâncias.

Word by Word

• pāṭala-utpala-padma-ādyaiḥ: with pāṭala, blue-lotus, lotus, etc.
• pāṭala-utpala-padma-ādyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāṭala (प्रातिपदिक) + utpala (प्रातिपदिक) + padma (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (समाहार-द्वन्द्व) + ‘ādi’ (etc.)

• pānīyam: drinking water
• pānīyam: Karma (कर्म/Object—offering item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pānīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (context: item offered)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• su-gandhitam: well-scented
• su-gandhitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय-उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + gandhita (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from √gandh (धातु) ‘to smell/be fragrant’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; समासः—कर्मधारयः: ‘सु-गन्धि’

• pañca-saugandhika-upetam: endowed with five fragrances
• pañca-saugandhika-upetam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca (प्रातिपदिक) + saugandhika (प्रातिपदिक) + upeta (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from √i (धातु) with upa- ‘to be endowed/possessed’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘upeta’; समासः—तत्पुरुषः: ‘पञ्चसौगन्धिकैः उपेतम्’ (instrumental sense)

• tāmbūlam: betel (offering)
• tāmbūlam: Karma (कर्म/Object—offering item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāmbūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• su-saṃskṛtam: well-prepared / well-refined
• su-saṃskṛtam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय) + saṃskṛta (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from √kṛ (धातु) with saṃ- ‘to prepare/refine’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; समासः—कर्मधारयः: ‘सु-संस्कृतम्’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General upacāra continuation: pānīya (perfumed water) and tāmbūla are concluding honors after naivedya, reflecting completeness (pūrṇopacāra) in Śiva worship.

Significance: Offering perfumed water and tāmbūla signifies hospitality to the Lord and completion of worship; spiritually, it cultivates humility and surrender in the paśu, inviting Śiva’s grace.

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

FAQs

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

The verse highlights upacāras (devotional services) offered with purity and refinement—fragrant water and well-prepared tāmbūla—signifying that the devotee’s senses and intentions are consecrated to Pati (Śiva), supporting inner devotion (bhakti) and disciplined reverence.

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

Such offerings are standard elements of saguna worship, where the Liṅga is honored as Śiva’s gracious, accessible form. Perfumed water and tāmbūla function as respectful hospitality to the Lord, expressing loving service while the devotee contemplates Śiva as the indwelling Reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Ritually, it suggests completing Śiva-pūjā with fragrant water (for pānīya/ācamanīya) and offering tāmbūla after the main worship. Meditatively, it implies offering the senses (smell, taste) back to Śiva with mantra-japa—especially the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as an inner upacāra.