Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 15

पूजाविधिः

Pūjā-vidhiḥ) — The Supreme Procedure of Worship (Morning Observances

Devanagari script

उच्छिष्टेनैव वस्त्रेण न स्नायात्स कदाचन । शुद्धवस्त्रेण संस्नायात्तद्देवस्मरपूर्वकम्

Transliteration

ucchiṣṭenaiva vastreṇa na snāyātsa kadācana | śuddhavastreṇa saṃsnāyāttaddevasmarapūrvakam

Translation

اُچّھِشٹ (ناپاک) کپڑے سے کبھی غسل نہ کرے۔ پاک کپڑے سے غسل کرے اور پہلے اسی دیوتا—بھگوان شِو—کا سمرن کرے۔

Word by Word

• उच्छिष्टेन: with an impure (cloth)
• उच्छिष्टेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उच्छिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/विशेषणरूपेण, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘soiled/impure’

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय

• वस्त्रेण: with a cloth/garment
• वस्त्रेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• स्नायात्: should bathe
• स्नायात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कदाचन: ever/at any time
• कदाचन: Kālādhi karaṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचन (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (at any time/ever)

• शुद्धवस्त्रेण: with a clean cloth
• शुद्धवस्त्रेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुद्ध + वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (शुद्धं वस्त्रम्)

• संस्नायात्: should bathe properly
• संस्नायात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-स्ना (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तत्: then/thereafter
• तत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (thereafter/that)

• देवस्मरपूर्वकम्: preceded by remembrance of the deity
• देवस्मरपूर्वकम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: देव + स्मर + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमासः; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative): ‘with prior remembrance of the deity’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames snāna as pūrvāṅga of Śiva-upāsanā: external cleanliness (śuddha-vastra) joined to internal recollection (deva-smaraṇa) makes the act a vehicle for purification and receptivity to Śiva’s grace.

Mantra Metadata

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that external purity supports inner purity: bathing should be done with cleanliness and with conscious remembrance of Śiva, transforming a routine act into a devotional purification aligned with Shaiva discipline.

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

Linga-worship emphasizes śauca (cleanliness) and bhāva (devotional intent). Using a clean cloth and remembering the Deity prepares the body-mind for approaching Saguna Śiva in the form of the Linga with reverence and ritual fitness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform snāna with a clean cloth and begin with deva-smaraṇa—mentally invoking Śiva (often with the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) before continuing with daily pūjā practices such as bhasma or mantra-japa where appropriate.