Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 23

पुष्पार्पण-विनिर्णयः

Determination of Flower-Offerings to Śiva

Devanagari script

लक्षेण भजते कश्चिद्द्वितीये जातिसंभवः । तृतीये कामनालाभश्चतुर्थे तं प्रपश्यति

Transliteration

lakṣeṇa bhajate kaściddvitīye jātisaṃbhavaḥ | tṛtīye kāmanālābhaścaturthe taṃ prapaśyati

Translation

ఎవడైనా ఒక లక్ష జపం/పూజతో శివభజన చేస్తే; రెండవ దశలో ఉత్తమ జన్మ లభిస్తుంది; మూడవ దశలో కోరిన ఫలసిద్ధి కలుగుతుంది; నాలుగవ దశలో ఆయనను ప్రత్యక్షంగా దర్శిస్తాడు।

Word by Word

• लक्षेण: with/by (one) lakh (recitations)
• लक्षेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन (singular)

• भजते: worships; practices
• भजते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• कश्चित्: someone
• कश्चित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular); अनिश्चितार्थक (indefinite)

• द्वितीये: in the second (lakh)
• द्वितीये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वितीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (m/n), सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन (singular); क्रमवाचक (ordinal)

• जाति-संभवः: birth/lineage arises; (there is) origin of birth
• जाति-संभवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाति (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• तृतीये: in the third (lakh)
• तृतीये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृतीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (m/n), सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन (singular); क्रमवाचक (ordinal)

• कामना-लाभः: attainment of desires
• कामना-लाभः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कामना (प्रातिपदिक) + लाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• चतुर्थे: in the fourth (lakh)
• चतुर्थे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (m/n), सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन (singular); क्रमवाचक (ordinal)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• प्रपश्यति: sees clearly; beholds
• प्रपश्यति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + पश्य् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Maps a graded sādhanā-krama: increasing japa yields progressively subtler fruits—from worldly uplift (good birth) to iṣṭa-siddhi and finally darśana—mirroring an inner pilgrimage from bhoga to mokṣa.

Mantra Metadata

Type: mahamrityunjaya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents a graded path of sādhana: sustained devotion first purifies karma (leading to auspicious birth), then grants regulated fulfillment of desires, and finally culminates in Śiva-sākṣātkāra (direct vision), pointing beyond benefits to realization of Pati (Śiva) as the highest goal.

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

The verse implies disciplined worship—commonly performed as liṅga-pūjā and mantra-japa to Saguna Śiva—where repetition and devotion mature from seeking results to attaining darśana, the living encounter with the Lord worshipped in the liṅga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is mantra-japa in counted numbers (e.g., one lakh repetitions of the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), supported by daily liṅga-pūjā, bhasma/tripuṇḍra, and rudrākṣa as aids to steadiness and purity.