Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 44

षडध्व-शुद्धिः

Purification of the Six Adhvans / Sixfold Cosmic Path

Devanagari script

रेखात्रयं च परितो भस्मना तिलसर्षपैः । कृत्वास्त्रजप्तैस्तद्वाह्ये दिगीशानां बलिं हरेत्

Transliteration

rekhātrayaṃ ca parito bhasmanā tilasarṣapaiḥ | kṛtvāstrajaptaistadvāhye digīśānāṃ baliṃ haret

Translation

ให้ใช้เถ้าศักดิ์สิทธิ์ (ภัสมะ) พร้อมงาและเมล็ดมัสตาร์ด วาดเส้นศักดิ์สิทธิ์สามเส้นล้อมรอบโดยทั่ว แล้วภายนอกเขตที่ทำเครื่องหมายไว้—เมื่อชำระด้วยการสวดมนต์แล้ว—จงถวายบลี/เครื่องบูชาแด่เจ้าแห่งทิศทั้งหลาย.

Word by Word

• रेखात्रयम्: three lines
• रेखात्रयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रेखा + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (त्रयम् रेखानाम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• परितः: all around
• परितः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परितः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्गसदृश-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: ‘around’)

• भस्मना: with ash
• भस्मना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• तिलसर्षपैः: with sesame and mustard seeds
• तिलसर्षपैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल + सर्षप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (तिलाश्च सर्षपाश्च)

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having done/made’

• अस्त्रजप्तैः: with (things) consecrated by weapon-mantra recitation
• अस्त्रजप्तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अस्त्र + जप्त (प्रातिपदिक; जप्-धातु से क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-समासः (अस्त्रं जप्तं येन/यैः)

• तद्वाह्ये: in/at the outer (part) thereof
• तद्वाह्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् + वाह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (तत्-वाह्ये = ‘outside that/thereafter to be carried out’)

• दिगीशानाम्: of the lords of the directions
• दिगीशानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिक् + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (दिशाम् ईशाः)

• बलिम्: offering
• बलिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• हरेत्: should offer / should present
• हरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: (implied) astra-mantra (protective ‘weapon’ mantra) used to consecrate bhasma/tilasarṣapa and the boundary; specific wording not quoted in the verse.

Type: kavaca

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: protective

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Digishas (Guardians of the Directions)

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shaiva worship is safeguarded by purity and protection: Tripuṇḍra-bhasma marks the devotee’s alignment with Shiva, while offering bali to the directional guardians harmonizes the surrounding forces so the rite proceeds without obstruction.

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

Before approaching Saguna Shiva in ritual—often through Liṅga worship—one establishes a sanctified, protected space. The ash-lines and mantra-consecration function as preparatory disciplines that support focused devotion and orderly pūjā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Draw three protective ash-lines (Tripuṇḍra-style marking) using bhasma with sesame and mustard, consecrate with a protective mantra (Astra-japa), and make a respectful bali offering to the guardians of the directions outside the boundary.