Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 48

पुष्पार्पण-विनिर्णयः

Determination of Flower-Offerings to Śiva

Devanagari script

पलद्वययुतं तत्र मानमेतत्पुरातनम् । यवपूजा च मुनिभिः स्वर्गसौख्यविवर्द्धिनी

Transliteration

paladvayayutaṃ tatra mānametatpurātanam | yavapūjā ca munibhiḥ svargasaukhyavivarddhinī

Translation

Doon, ang sinaunang pamantayang sukat na ito ay sinasabing may bigat na “dalawang pala.” At ang pagsambang may sebada (yava) na isinasagawa ng mga muni ay gawi na nagpapalago ng ligaya at ginhawa sa langit.

Word by Word

• पलद्वययुतम्: combined with two palas
• पलद्वययुतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पल-द्वय-युत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—पलयोः द्वयेन युतम् (joined with two palas)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (there/in that context)

• मानम्: the measure
• मानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण

• पुरातनम्: ancient
• पुरातनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुरातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• यवपूजा: barley-worship/offerings
• यवपूजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यव-पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; यवानां पूजा

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (and)

• मुनिभिः: by sages
• मुनिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• स्वर्गसौख्यविवर्द्धिनी: increasing heavenly happiness
• स्वर्गसौख्यविवर्द्धिनी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वर्ग-सौख्य-विवर्द्धिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—स्वर्गस्य सौख्यस्य विवर्द्धिनी (increasing heavenly happiness)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames yava-pūjā as an ancient (purātana) standard that yields svarga-sukha—classical ‘sthiti’ fruit (sustained well-being) within saṃsāra, while still orienting the soul toward higher Śaiva ends.

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 highlights that even precise, traditional ritual details—like proper measure and approved offerings—when performed with devotion, generate punya (merit) that yields refined enjoyments (svarga-sukha), supporting the Shaiva view that disciplined worship purifies the pashu (bound soul) and elevates it.

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

Yava-pūjā is a material offering used in Saguna worship, where Shiva is approached through a sanctified form (such as the Linga) and specific upacharas. The verse underscores that sanctioned offerings, given with reverence, bear auspicious results.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests yava (barley) as a recommended puja-offering, with attention to correct traditional measure; as a takeaway, one may offer barley to Shiva (especially in vrata contexts) alongside mantra-japa like the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), maintaining purity and devotion.