Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 28

लिङ्गपूजनसंक्षेपः

Concise Teaching on Liṅga Worship / Śiva-arcana-vidhi

Devanagari script

स्नानं तु विधिवत्कार्यं तीर्थादिषु क्रमेण तु । देशकालविशेषेण स्नानं कार्यं समंत्रकम्

Transliteration

snānaṃ tu vidhivatkāryaṃ tīrthādiṣu krameṇa tu | deśakālaviśeṣeṇa snānaṃ kāryaṃ samaṃtrakam

Translation

การอาบน้ำชำระควรกระทำตามพิธีอย่างถูกต้อง—ที่ทิรถะและสถานที่ที่กำหนด โดยลำดับ. ตามความต่างแห่งสถานที่และกาลเวลา พึงอาบน้ำให้ถูกต้องพร้อมสวดมนต์ประกอบ.

Word by Word

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय

• विधिवत्: according to the prescribed rule
• विधिवत्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverbial), 'according to rule'

• कार्यम्: to be done/should be done
• कार्यम्: विधेय (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कार्य (कृदन्त, अनियत-कर्तव्य/gerundive)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (यत्) कृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय (कर्तव्यता)

• तीर्थ-आदिषु: in pilgrimage places etc.
• तीर्थ-आदिषु: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (तीर्थं आदिः येषु); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण/Locative), बहुवचन

• क्रमेण: in due order
• क्रमेण: क्रियाविशेषण (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial instrumental)

• तु: and/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय

• देश-काल-विशेषेण: according to place-and-time distinctions
• देश-काल-विशेषेण: करण/हेतु (Instrument/Condition/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश (प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक) + विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (समाहार/निर्देश: देशस्य कालस्य च विशेषेण); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कार्यम्: should be done
• कार्यम्: विधेय (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कार्य (कृदन्त, कृत्य/gerundive)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (यत्) कृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय

• स-मन्त्रकम्: together with mantras
• स-मन्त्रकम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + मन्त्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (समन्त्रकम् = मन्त्रेण सह); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (स्नानम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the prescribed observances to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya, within the Rudra Saṃhitā framework)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Affirms tīrtha-snāna and mantra-snāna as purificatory supports for Śiva-bhakti; prepares the bound soul (paśu) for receptivity to grace (anugraha).

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

FAQs

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

It teaches that purification is not merely physical; when done with right method, right context (place and time), and mantra, bathing becomes a sanctifying saṃskāra that prepares the devotee for Shiva-worship and inner clarity.

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

Before approaching the Śiva-liṅga (Saguna Shiva worship), the devotee is instructed to become ritually fit through vidhivat snāna; mantra-linked purity supports proper upacāra and steadies devotion (bhakti) and reverence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform snāna in a prescribed manner—ideally at a tīrtha when possible—while reciting appropriate Śaiva mantras (commonly the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), aligning the practice with the specific place and time.