Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 74

पूजाविधिः

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

Devanagari script

गुरूपदिष्टमार्गेण कृत्वा मन्त्रमुदीरयेत् । यथासंख्यं यथाज्ञानं कुर्यान्मंत्रविधिन्नरः

Transliteration

gurūpadiṣṭamārgeṇa kṛtvā mantramudīrayet | yathāsaṃkhyaṃ yathājñānaṃ kuryānmaṃtravidhinnaraḥ

Translation

เมื่อปฏิบัติตามมรรคาที่คุรุสั่งสอนและทำพิธีตามแบบแผนแล้ว พึงสาธยายมนตร์ บุคคลควรประกอบพิธีมนตร์ตามจำนวนที่ถูกต้องและตามความรู้ความเข้าใจ ตามที่มนตร์วิธีกำหนดไว้

Word by Word

• गुरु-उपदिष्ट-मार्गेण: by the path instructed by the guru
• गुरु-उपदिष्ट-मार्गेण: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + उपदिष्ट (कृदन्त; उप + √दिश्, क्त) + मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास-समूह: 'गुरुणा उपदिष्टः मार्गः' → तेन (मार्गेण)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), 'having done'

• मन्त्रम्: the mantra
• मन्त्रम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• उदीरयेत्: should utter/recite
• उदीरयेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + √ईर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• यथा-संख्यम्: in due order
• यथा-संख्यम्: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + संख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial): 'क्रमेण/संख्यानुसारम्'

• यथा-ज्ञानम्: according to understanding
• यथा-ज्ञानम्: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial): 'ज्ञानानुसारम्'

• कुर्यात्: should do/perform
• कुर्यात्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मन्त्र-विधिम्: the procedure of the mantra
• मन्त्र-विधिम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'मन्त्रस्य विधिः'

• नरः: a man/person
• नरः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s worship-method to the sages of Naimisharanya within the Rudrasaṃhitā context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Guru

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva-mantra practice becomes truly effective when done through the Guru-taught method, with disciplined japa and correct observance of vidhi—aligning the devotee (paśu) to Shiva’s grace (Pati) for purification and liberation.

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

Mantra-japa is a core limb of Saguna Shiva worship (including Linga-pūjā): the verse emphasizes that recitation should be integrated with the proper ritual sequence and guidance, not treated as casual speech.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform the prescribed preparatory acts, then do mantra-japa with a fixed count (saṃkhyā) as taught by the Guru, maintaining fidelity to mantra-vidhi; it supports steady meditation on Shiva and disciplined daily practice.