Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 19

अग्निकार्य-होमविधिः

Agnikārya and Homa Procedure

Devanagari script

न्यस्य मन्त्रं घृते मुद्रां दर्शयेद्धेनुसंज्ञिताम् । स्रुक्स्रुवौ तैजसौ ग्राह्यौ न कांस्यायससैसकौ

Transliteration

nyasya mantraṃ ghṛte mudrāṃ darśayeddhenusaṃjñitām | sruksruvau taijasau grāhyau na kāṃsyāyasasaisakau

Translation

เมื่อวางมนตร์ลงในเนยใสแล้ว พึงแสดงมุทราที่ชื่อว่า “ธेनุมุทรา” สำหรับสฺรุกและสฺรุวาให้ใช้โลหะที่สุกสว่างเป็นประกาย ไม่ควรใช้ภาชนะทำด้วยสำริดระฆัง เหล็ก หรือ ตะกั่ว

Word by Word

• न्यस्य: having placed/installed
• न्यस्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√अस्/√न्यस् (धातु; ‘to place’) → न्यस्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वक्रिया ‘having placed/installed’

• मन्त्रम्: the mantra
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• घृते: in ghee
• घृते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; स्थान/आधार ‘in ghee’

• मुद्राम्: the hand-gesture (mudrā)
• मुद्राम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• दर्शयेत्: should show
• दर्शयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• धेनु-संज्ञिताम्: named ‘Dhenu’
• धेनु-संज्ञिताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धेनु (प्रातिपदिक) + संज्ञित (कृदन्त; √ज्ञा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (‘धेनु’ इति संज्ञा यस्याः) विशेषणम् (मुद्रां)

• स्रुक्: the ladle (sruk)
• स्रुक्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्रुक् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समुच्चयस्य अङ्गम्

• स्रुवौ: the spoon/ladle (sruva)
• स्रुवौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘स्रुक्’ सह समुच्चितम् (युग्म-उपकरणम्)

• तैजसौ: made of metal/bright (taijasa)
• तैजसौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तैजस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषणम् (स्रुक्-स्रुवौ)

• ग्राह्यौ: should be taken/used
• ग्राह्यौ: Vidhi (विधि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √ग्रह् (धातु) → ग्राह्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: विध्यर्थक कृदन्त (णीयत्/यत्-प्रत्ययार्थे ‘to be taken’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम्

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (particle of negation)

• कांस्य-अयस-सैसकौ: (not) of bronze, iron, or lead
• कांस्य-अयस-सैसकौ: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कांस्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अयस (प्रातिपदिक) + सैसक (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (कांस्यं च अयः च सैसकं च) निषेध-विधेय (ग्राह्यौ इत्यस्य प्रतिषेधः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that Shaiva worship is not casual: mantra, mudrā, and the purity of implements discipline the mind and align the offering with śuddhi (purification), supporting devotion that leads the bound soul (paśu) toward Shiva (Pati).

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

In Saguna Shiva worship—especially Linga-pūjā—offerings like ghee are sanctified through mantra-nyāsa and mudrā, making the act a conscious consecration rather than mere material oblation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform mantra-nyāsa over ghee, show the Dhenumudrā, and use appropriate bright-metal ladle/spoon (sruk–sruva), avoiding bell-metal, iron, and lead for this offering.