Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 44

Devanagari script

विन्ध्ये च वसतिं तस्याः पूजामासवपूर्वकैः । मांसैर्मत्स्यैरपूपैश्च निर्वर्त्यासौ समादिशत्

Transliteration

vindhye ca vasatiṃ tasyāḥ pūjāmāsavapūrvakaiḥ | māṃsairmatsyairapūpaiśca nirvartyāsau samādiśat

Translation

وِندھیا کے علاقے میں اُس نے اُس کے لیے رہائش کا بندوبست کیا، اور آسوَ سے آغاز ہونے والی نذر و نیاز کے ساتھ گوشت، مچھلی اور اپوپ (پُوئے) پیش کر کے اُس کی پوجا ادا کی؛ پھر اُس نے حکم جاری کیا۔

Word by Word

• विन्ध्ये: in/at Vindhya (mountain)
• विन्ध्ये: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विन्ध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

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

• वसतिम्: dwelling, residence
• वसतिम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• पूजा: worship
• पूजा: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आसव-पूर्वकैः: with (things) preceded by liquor/ferment (āsava)
• आसव-पूर्वकैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आसव (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• मांसैः: with meats
• मांसैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• मत्स्यैः: with fishes
• मत्स्यैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• अपूपैः: with cakes (fried/ritual cakes)
• अपूपैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

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

• निर्वर्त्य: having carried out/finished
• निर्वर्त्य: पूर्वकाल (Prior action to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर् + वृत् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having performed/after accomplishing’

• असौ: he (that person)
• असौ: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• समादिशत्: ordered, instructed
• समादिशत्: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + दिश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Vindhya-nivāsa motif: Devī is established in the Vindhya region as a protective, boundary-guardian power; local cults often identify her with Vindhyavāsinī.

Significance: Seeking protection, victory over obstacles, and appeasement of fierce Devī forms; establishment (pratiṣṭhā) sanctifies the land.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Vindhya

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that worship can be performed according to a specific prescribed mode and locale; in Shaiva understanding, the inner intention (bhakti) and the ordained procedure (vidhi) together shape the spiritual efficacy of an act.

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

Although the Linga is not named here, the verse reflects Saguna-oriented ritual worship—formal offerings and completion of a rite—typical of Purana narratives where devotion is expressed through concrete, visible acts.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests vidhi-based pūjā (formal worship) with specific offerings; as a Shaiva takeaway, one may adopt a sattvic Shiva-pūjā with mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara, Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while keeping discipline and purity appropriate to one’s tradition.