Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 36
पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow
निवेदयित्वा विभवे कल्याणं च समाचरेत् । इष्टानि च विशिष्टानि न्यायेनोपार्जितानि च
nivedayitvā vibhave kalyāṇaṃ ca samācaret | iṣṭāni ca viśiṣṭāni nyāyenopārjitāni ca
เมื่อถวายตามกำลังทรัพย์แล้ว พึงประพฤติสิ่งอันเป็นมงคล และพึงมอบสิ่งที่น่าปรารถนาและประณีต ซึ่งได้มาด้วยทางอันชอบธรรม
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahadeva
Significance: Frames Śiva-worship as ethically grounded: offerings should be ‘nyāyenopārjita’ (righteously earned), aligning ritual purity with moral purity—key to loosening pāśa (bondage) and inviting anugraha.
FAQs
It teaches that Shaiva merit arises when devotion is grounded in dharma: offerings and good works should match one’s capacity and be supported by righteously earned resources, aligning the pashu (individual) toward Pati (Shiva) through purity of means and intention.
Linga worship emphasizes inner and outer purity; this verse underlines that what is offered to Saguna Shiva should be “nyāyenopārjita”—lawfully acquired—so the act of puja becomes sattvic and fit for consecrated worship.
Before Shiva-puja, set aside a modest, honest portion of your earnings for offerings (water, bilva leaves, lamp, naivedya) and perform a simple sankalpa with the Panchakshara mantra, ensuring the offering is clean, ethical, and within your means.