Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 50

गणेशाभिषेक-वरदान-विधानम् | Gaṇeśa’s Consecration, Boons, and Prescribed Worship

Devanagari script

द्वादश ब्राह्मणास्तत्र भोजनीया मदाज्ञया । कुंभमेकं च संस्थाप्य पूज्या मूर्तिस्त्वदीयिका

Transliteration

dvādaśa brāhmaṇāstatra bhojanīyā madājñayā | kuṃbhamekaṃ ca saṃsthāpya pūjyā mūrtistvadīyikā

Translation

По моему повелению там следует накормить двенадцать брахманов. И, установив один ритуальный кумбха‑сосуд, надлежит почитать твою собственную божественную форму — мурти.

Word by Word

• dvādaśa: twelve
• dvādaśa: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvādaśa (संख्याशब्द-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral adjective (संख्यावाचक); indeclinable-like usage here qualifying brāhmaṇāḥ

• brāhmaṇāḥ: Brahmins
• brāhmaṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa/Adhikaraṇa (देश/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of place (देशवाचक अव्यय)

• bhojanīyāḥ: to be fed / should be feasted
• bhojanīyāḥ: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √bhuj (धातु) → bhojanīya (कृदन्त, अनीयर्)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन); Gerundive (अनीयर्) meaning ‘to be fed’

• mat-ājñayā: by my command
• mat-ājñayā: Hetu/Nimitta (हेतु/निमित्त)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + ājñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3/तृतीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); Tatpuruṣa: mama ājñayā (by my command)

• kuṃbham: a pot
• kuṃbham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuṃbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• ekam: one
• ekam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• saṃsthāpya: having स्थापित / having set up
• saṃsthāpya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃ-√sthā (धातु) → saṃsthāpya (कृदन्त, ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त), ‘having established/placed’

• pūjyā: to be worshipped
• pūjyā: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √pūj (धातु) → pūjya (कृदन्त, यत्)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन); Gerundive (यत्) ‘to be worshipped’

• mūrtiḥ: image / form (idol)
• mūrtiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• tvadīyikā: belonging to you / your
• tvadīyikā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tvadīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन); possessive adjective (तद्धित)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (instructing the proper manner of worship/observance)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a Jyotirliṅga; it prescribes udyāpana hospitality (feeding brāhmaṇas) and kumbha-sthāpana as a locus for invoking Śiva’s presence for worship.

Significance: Highlights dāna/anna-dāna and atithi-sevā as extensions of Śiva-pūjā; feeding twelve brāhmaṇas functions as social-sacral completion of the vow.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahmanas

FAQs

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

The verse links devotion to Shiva with dharmic service: honoring the learned (feeding Brāhmaṇas) and performing focused worship through an established sacred seat (kumbha), expressing bhakti in both action and ritual.

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

By directing worship of “your own mūrti,” the text affirms Saguna upāsanā—approaching Shiva through a consecrated, accessible form. The kumbha functions as a sanctified locus for invoking and honoring the deity’s presence, akin to formal worship settings used for Linga or deity-invocation rites.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical observance is indicated: arrange sacred feeding for twelve Brāhmaṇas, establish a kumbha as the ritual center, and perform puja to the deity’s form with reverence—an outward discipline that supports inner devotion.