Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 39

पुष्पार्पण-विनिर्णयः

Determination of Flower-Offerings to Śiva

Devanagari script

षट्केनैव तु प्रस्थानां तदर्धेन तथा पुनः । पलद्वयं तथा लक्षमानेन समदाहृतम्

Transliteration

ṣaṭkenaiva tu prasthānāṃ tadardhena tathā punaḥ | paladvayaṃ tathā lakṣamānena samadāhṛtam

Translation

ప్రస్థముల పరిమాణము ఆరు (ఏకకముల) చేతనే నిర్ణయించబడింది; మరల దాని అర్ధ పరిమాణమును కూడా చెప్పారు. అలాగే రెండు పలముల మానం మరియు లక్షమానం కూడా క్రమంగా ప్రకటించబడింది.

Word by Word

• षट्केन: by six (units)
• षट्केन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट्क (प्रातिपदिक; षट्+क)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण-निर्देश (instrumental of measure)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधान/एवकारार्थ

• तु: but/and
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (concessive/contrastive particle)

• प्रस्थानाम्: of prasthas (a measure)
• प्रस्थानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; परिमाण-सम्बन्ध (genitive of measure)

• तत्: by that
• तत्: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; विशेषण (demonstrative)

• अर्धेन: by half
• अर्धेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण-निर्देश (instrumental of fraction)

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• पलद्वयम्: two palas
• पलद्वयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पल + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; द्विगुसमास (numeral compound)

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• लक्षमानेन: by the measure called lakṣamāna
• लक्षमानेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्षमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण (instrumental of measure/standard)

• सम्: together/completely (prefix)
• सम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Preverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग (preverb)

• आदाहृतम्: has been stated/mentioned
• आदाहृतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; in passive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + √हृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: A technical aside on ritual metrology (prastha, pala, lakṣa-māna) used to standardize offerings; not a sthala narrative.

Significance: Highlights that devotion is supported by order (krama) and correct measure (pramāṇa), reflecting the Śaiva Siddhānta stress on kriyā (ritual action) performed properly as a means to purification and receptivity to grace.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes order (niyama) and correctness in sacred practice—outer precision in measures supports inner discipline, aiding steadiness of mind in Shaiva worship and ultimately aligning the devotee toward Shiva (Pati).

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

Linga-worship commonly involves measured offerings (water, milk, grains, ghee). By defining standards like prastha and pala, the text safeguards ritual purity and consistency, which Shaiva tradition treats as supportive of devotion to Saguna Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A takeaway is to perform Shiva-puja with disciplined observance—use accurate traditional measures for offerings and keep a regulated routine (niyama), alongside mantra-japa such as the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).