Shloka 14

उपलेपनादिकथनम्

Vastraputa-jala, Ahimsa, and Conduct in Shiva Worship

Devanagari script

शिवालये निहत्यैकम् अपि तत्सकलं लभेत् शिवार्थं सर्वदा कार्या पुष्पहिंसा द्विजोत्तमाः

Transliteration

śivālaye nihatyaikam api tatsakalaṃ labhet śivārthaṃ sarvadā kāryā puṣpahiṃsā dvijottamāḥ

Translation

शिवालये निहत्यैकं पुष्पमपि तत्सकलं फलमवाप्नुयात्। तस्माच्छिवार्थं सर्वदा कार्या पुष्पहिंसा द्विजोत्तमाः॥

Word by Word

• śivālaye: in the abode/temple of Śiva

• nihatya: having struck down/plucked/removed

• ekam: one (single flower)

• api: even

• tat-sakalam: that whole (complete merit/result)

• labhet: one obtains

• śiva-artham: for the purpose of Śiva

• sarvadā: always

• kāryā: should be done/ought to be performed

• puṣpa-hiṃsā: the harm/injury connected with flowers (plucking)

• dvija-uttamāḥ: O best of the twice-born (Brāhmaṇas).

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It teaches that even a small, sincere offering—like a single flower taken for Śiva in His shrine—yields complete merit when performed as śivārtha (solely for Śiva), reinforcing the primacy of intention in Linga-pūjā.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Śiva-tattva is implied as Pati, the supreme Lord who sanctifies actions done for His sake; when the act is consecrated to Him, the devotee (paśu) receives grace that outweighs the apparent fault of ‘hiṃsā’ involved in plucking.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It highlights pūjā-vidhi in a Śiva temple—collecting flowers specifically for Śiva as a dedicated, purified act—supporting the devotional discipline that complements Pāśupata-oriented worship.