Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 45

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

Devanagari script

असंभवे तु द्रव्याणां यथासंभवसंभृतैः । केवलैर्मंत्रतोयैर्वा स्नापयेच्छ्रद्धया शिवम्

Transliteration

asaṃbhave tu dravyāṇāṃ yathāsaṃbhavasaṃbhṛtaiḥ | kevalairmaṃtratoyairvā snāpayecchraddhayā śivam

Translation

اگر مطلوبہ دَرویہ میسر نہ ہوں تو جو کچھ ممکن ہو فراہم کر کے، یا صرف منتر سے مُقدّس پانی ہی سے، عقیدت کے ساتھ بھگوان شِو کو غسل دے۔

Word by Word

• असम्भवे: in the non-availability
• असम्भवे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine) / नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) भाववाचक; सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन; ‘असम्भवे’ = ‘अभावे/अनुपलब्धौ’

• तु: however
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेष (particle: but/indeed)

• द्रव्याणाम्: of materials/substances
• द्रव्याणाम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन

• यथा-सम्भव-सम्भृतैः: with what has been procured as available
• यथा-सम्भव-सम्भृतैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यथा + सम्भव + सम्भृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण (द्रव्यैः/तोयैः इत्यर्थे); समासः—अव्ययीभाव (‘यथासम्भव’ = as possible) + तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-भाव (‘सम्भृत’ = collected/procured)

• केवलैः: only/merely
• केवलैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: केवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (मन्त्रतोयैः)

• मन्त्र-तोयैः: with mantra-consecrated water
• मन्त्र-तोयैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र + तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (मन्त्रेण संस्कृतानि तोयानि)

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्प (or)

• स्नापयेत्: should bathe (him/it)
• स्नापयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; णिच् (causative)

• श्रद्धया: with faith
• श्रद्धया: Hetu/Instrument (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Affirms accessibility: even without elaborate dravyas, mantra and śraddhā suffice—supporting inclusive worship for householders and the poor; emphasizes grace over material opulence.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: (implied) oṃ namaḥ śivāya

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva accepts devotion over display—when external offerings are limited, sincere śraddhā and mantra-consecrated worship still becomes spiritually efficacious and purifying.

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

It supports Liṅga-abhiṣeka as a valid Saguna practice even in simplicity: bathing the Liṅga with attainable items, or even mantra-sanctified water alone, is affirmed as proper worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform abhiṣeka using mantra-toya (water empowered by japa such as the Pañcākṣarī/“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), emphasizing inner faith; elaborate dravyas are optional when unavailable.