Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 69

पूजास्थानशुद्धिः पात्रशोधनं च — Purification of the Worship-Space and Preparation of Ritual Vessels

Devanagari script

तावतैव परो धर्मो भावने सुकृतो भवेत् । असंपूज्य न भुञ्जीत शिवमाप्राणसंचरात्

Transliteration

tāvataiva paro dharmo bhāvane sukṛto bhavet | asaṃpūjya na bhuñjīta śivamāprāṇasaṃcarāt

Translation

นี่คือธรรมอันสูงสุด คือบ่มเพาะในใจให้มีเจตนาดีและความดีงามเป็นบุญกุศล ตราบใดที่ลมหายใจยังเคลื่อนไหวในกาย ไม่พึงฉันอาหารโดยมิได้บูชาพระศิวะก่อน

Word by Word

• tāvatā: by that much; to that extent
• tāvatā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tāvat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); pramāṇa-viśeṣaṇa (measure/extent)

• eva: indeed; only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle (निश्चय/अवधारण)

• paraḥ: supreme; highest
• paraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); viśeṣaṇa of dharmaḥ

• dharmaḥ: dharma; righteous duty
• dharmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; subject

• bhāvane: in contemplation/mental cultivation (bhāvanā)
• bhāvane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; adhikaraṇa

• sukṛtaḥ: well-performed; meritorious
• sukṛtaḥ: Pradhāna-viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sukṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; predicate adjective with bhavet

• bhavet: may be; should become
• bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada

• asaṃpūjya: without worshipping (first)
• asaṃpūjya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na + saṃpūjya < saṃpūj (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्); with negative prefix a-/an-; pūrvakāla-kriyā (prior action)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• bhuñjīta: should eat/partake
• bhuñjīta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (optative), 3rd person, Singular; ātmanepada usage; injunction

• śivam: Śiva (as naivedya/portion offered to Śiva)
• śivam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of bhuñjīta

• ā-prāṇa-saṃcarāt: until the movement of breath (i.e., until life-breath circulates)
• ā-prāṇa-saṃcarāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ā + prāṇa + saṃcara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; ā- upasarga with sense of limit 'until'; compound: prāṇasaṃcara = 'movement/flow of breath' (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: prāṇānāṃ saṃcaraḥ)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shaiva observances to the sages at Naimisharanya, within the Vāyavīya discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames daily life as continuous worship: before eating, one should honor Śiva—turning ordinary sustenance into sanctified practice and reinforcing constant remembrance.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that the highest dharma is twofold: inner refinement (bhāvana) and constant God-centered conduct—so that even eating becomes a consecrated act offered to Śiva, sustained for the whole span of life (as long as prāṇa moves).

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

By insisting on worship before meals, the verse supports nitya-pūjā of Saguna Śiva—commonly through the Śiva-liṅga—so daily life is ritually linked to the Lord, transforming ordinary consumption into devotional offering.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple daily rule: perform Śiva-pūjā or at least mental worship (mānasa-pūjā) and remembrance with mantra (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) before eating, maintaining purity of intention and offering the act to Śiva.