Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 14

पूजास्थानशुद्धिः पात्रशोधनं च — Purification of the Worship-Space and Preparation of Ritual Vessels

Devanagari script

पात्राणां प्रोक्षणीमेकामलाभे सर्वकर्मसु । साधयेदर्घ्यमद्भिस्तत्सामान्यं साधकोत्तमः

Transliteration

pātrāṇāṃ prokṣaṇīmekāmalābhe sarvakarmasu | sādhayedarghyamadbhistatsāmānyaṃ sādhakottamaḥ

Translation

اگر کسی بھی عمل میں برتنوں کے لیے الگ پروکشنِی دستیاب نہ ہو، تو بہترین سادھک عام طریقے کے مطابق صرف پانی سے ہی اَर्घ्य ادا کرے۔

Word by Word

• पात्राणाम्: of the vessels
• पात्राणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• प्रोक्षणीम्: the sprinkling (vessel)
• प्रोक्षणीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prokṣaṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• एकाम्: one (single)
• एकाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण to प्रोक्षणीम्

• अलाभे: in the absence (of it)
• अलाभे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: alābha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• सर्वकर्मसु: in all rites/acts
• सर्वकर्मसु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्मधारय: ‘सर्वाणि कर्माणि’

• साधयेत्: should prepare/accomplish
• साधयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sādh (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• अर्घ्यम्: arghya-offering (water for respectful offering)
• अर्घ्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arghya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• अद्भिः: with waters
• अद्भिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ap (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); ‘अप्’ शब्दस्य विशेषरूपम्

• तत्: that/this
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण to सामान्यम्

• सामान्यम्: as the common (substitute method)
• सामान्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sāmānya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); विधेय/विशेषण: ‘common/general (procedure)’

• साधकोत्तमः: the best practitioner
• साधकोत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhaka + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय: ‘उत्तमः साधकः’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that sincere devotion and correct intention in Shiva-worship matter more than elaborate materials; when tools are lacking, a simple water-offering performed properly remains valid.

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

In Saguna Shiva worship—especially Linga-puja—purification and offerings are central. This verse permits a practical substitution so that arghya and purification are not interrupted even without a dedicated prokshani vessel.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use clean water to perform arghya and the necessary sprinkling/purificatory acts when specific implements are unavailable, maintaining steadiness of mind and remembrance of Shiva (e.g., with the Panchakshara mantra).