Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 8

स्कन्दसरः (Skandasara) — तीर्थवर्णनम् / Description of the Skandasara Sacred Lake

Devanagari script

आत्मार्थं च परार्थं च देवतार्थं विशेषतः । आनीयमानसलिलमात्तपुष्पं च नित्यशः

Transliteration

ātmārthaṃ ca parārthaṃ ca devatārthaṃ viśeṣataḥ | ānīyamānasalilamāttapuṣpaṃ ca nityaśaḥ

Translation

เพื่อประโยชน์แห่งตน เพื่อประโยชน์แห่งผู้อื่น และโดยเฉพาะเพื่อองค์เทวาธิเทพมหาเทวะศิวะ—น้ำที่อัญเชิญมาเพื่อบูชาและดอกไม้ที่เก็บมาควรถวายแด่พระศิวะเป็นนิตย์ทุกวัน।

Word by Word

• आत्मार्थम्: for one’s own purpose
• आत्मार्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (आत्मनः अर्थः)

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

• परार्थम्: for others’ purpose
• परार्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (परस्य अर्थः)

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

• देवतार्थम्: for the deity’s purpose
• देवतार्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देवतायाः अर्थः)

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/विशेषणार्थक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: especially)

• आनीयमान-सलिलम्: water being brought
• आनीयमान-सलिलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ√नी (धातु) + यमान (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय) + सलिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘आनीयमानं सलिलम्’ (water being brought)

• आत्त-पुष्पम्: a plucked flower
• आत्त-पुष्पम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ√दा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘आत्तं पुष्पम्’ (flower taken/plucked)

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

• नित्यशः: always; regularly
• नित्यशः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्यशस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आवृत्ति/कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: always/regularly)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: A general injunction of daily offering (water and flowers) for self, others, and chiefly for the Deity—typical of Śiva-pūjā dharma rather than a site-specific legend.

Significance: Daily jalārpaṇa and puṣpārpaṇa cultivate bhakti and purify karmic bonds; in Siddhānta terms, such caryā/kriyā supports the soul’s fitness for Śiva’s anugraha.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: oṃ namaḥ śivāya (implied; not quoted in the verse)

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that simple, consistent offerings—water and flowers—become spiritually potent when done daily with right intention: for self-purification, for the welfare of others, and chiefly as devotion to Lord Śiva (Pati), loosening the bonds (pāśa) that bind the soul (paśu).

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

Water and flowers are classic upacāras for Saguna worship, especially in Śiva-liṅga pūjā and abhiṣeka. The verse underscores that tangible offerings, when made with devotion and regularity, are valid means to approach Śiva in a worshipful, accessible form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform nitya Śiva-pūjā: bring clean water for offering/abhiṣeka and gather fresh flowers, then offer them with a devotional mind—ideally alongside mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya").