Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 58

पूजाविधिः

Pūjā-vidhiḥ) — The Supreme Procedure of Worship (Morning Observances

Devanagari script

सुगंधं चंदनं दद्यादन्यलेपानि यत्नतः । ससुगंधजलेनैव जलधारां प्रकल्पयेत्

Transliteration

sugaṃdhaṃ caṃdanaṃ dadyādanyalepāni yatnataḥ | sasugaṃdhajalenaiva jaladhārāṃ prakalpayet

Translation

พึงถวายจันทน์หอมและเครื่องทาอื่น ๆ ด้วยความเพียร และด้วยน้ำหอมเท่านั้น พึงจัดให้มีสายน้ำไหลต่อเนื่องเป็นอภิเษกแด่พระศิวะ

Word by Word

• सुगन्धम्: fragrant
• सुगन्धम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sugandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (agreeing with चन्दनम्)

• चन्दनम्: sandalwood (paste)
• चन्दनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd) एकवचन

• दद्याद्: should give/offer
• दद्याद्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अन्य-लेपानि: other unguents/pastes
• अन्य-लेपानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक) + lepa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन

• यत्नतः: carefully, with effort
• यत्नतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatnataḥ (अव्यय; यत्न-शब्दात् तसिल्)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: manner)

• स-सुगन्ध-जलेन: with fragrant water
• स-सुगन्ध-जलेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa (प्रातिपदिक) + sugandha (प्रातिपदिक) + jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सुगन्धं जलं यस्मिन्/युक्तं—‘with fragrant water’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया) एकवचन

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• जल-धाराम्: a stream of water
• जल-धाराम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक) + dhārā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (जलस्य धाराः/धारा); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन

• प्रकल्पयेत्: should arrange/prepare
• प्रकल्पयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कॢप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-worship procedure to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General liṅga-sevā: gandha (sandal/unguents) and jaladhārā (continuous water stream) are classic upacāras; the verse functions as a ritual rubric rather than a site legend.

Significance: Continuous jaladhārā symbolizes unbroken devotion (akhaṇḍa-bhakti) and steady purification; fragrant unguents signify honoring Śiva as the supreme, auspicious presence in the icon.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion to Shiva should be expressed through purity, fragrance, and attentive care—outer offerings like sandal and scented water symbolize inner refinement, steadiness of mind, and reverence toward Pati (Shiva), the liberator of the bound soul.

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

The verse directly describes Linga-upachara: applying sandal/unguents and performing abhisheka with a continuous stream of scented water. This is Saguna worship—approaching Shiva through a sacred form—while cultivating the inner awareness that Shiva is the supreme Pati beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform jaladhārā (steady abhisheka) with scented water and offer sandalwood paste; accompany it with focused japa such as the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” maintaining a calm, continuous attention like the unbroken flow of water.