Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 53

अग्निकार्य-होमविधिः

Agnikārya and Homa Procedure

Devanagari script

शिवाग्नेर्भस्मसंग्राह्यमग्निहोत्रोद्भवं तु वा । वैवाहोग्निभवं वापि पक्वं शुचि सुगंधि च

Transliteration

śivāgnerbhasmasaṃgrāhyamagnihotrodbhavaṃ tu vā | vaivāhognibhavaṃ vāpi pakvaṃ śuci sugaṃdhi ca

Translation

شیو-اگنی کی بھسم جمع کرے؛ یا اگنی ہوترا سے پیدا ہونے والی بھسم؛ یا بیاہ کی مقدس آگ سے حاصل بھسم بھی۔ وہ بھسم خوب پکی ہوئی، پاک اور خوشبودار ہو۔

Word by Word

• śiva-agneḥ: of Śiva’s fire
• śiva-agneḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (शिव) + agni (अग्नि प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhasma-saṃgrāhyam: ash that should be collected
• bhasma-saṃgrāhyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhasman (भस्मन्) + saṃgrāhya (संग्राह्य, √ग्रह् यत्/णीय)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Gerundive (णीय/यत्—‘to be collected’ sense), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative Singular; qualifying bhasma (implied)

• agnihotra-udbhavam: arisen from the agnihotra
• agnihotra-udbhavam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: agnihotra (अग्निहोत्र) + udbhava (उद्भव प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; qualifying bhasma (implied)

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, disjunction

• vaivāha-agni-bhavam: arisen from the wedding fire
• vaivāha-agni-bhavam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vaivāha (वैवाह) + agni (अग्नि) + bhava (भव प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; qualifying bhasma (implied)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, disjunction

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle (also/even)

• pakvam: well-cooked/fully burnt (matured)
• pakvam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pakva (पक्व प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; qualifying bhasma (implied)

• śuci: clean/pure
• śuci: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuci (शुचि प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; qualifying bhasma (implied)

• sugandhi: fragrant
• sugandhi: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (सु उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + gandhin (गन्धिन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) / upapada-like formation; Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; qualifying bhasma (implied)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that bhasma used in Śiva-worship should come from sanctified fire and possess purity and completeness (well-burnt), reflecting inner purification and devotion to Pati (Śiva) as taught in Shaiva Siddhanta.

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

Bhasma is a key upacāra in Saguna Śiva worship, especially with Tripuṇḍra; using ash from Śiva-dedicated or Vedic sacred fires aligns the devotee’s outer ritual with the sanctity of Linga-pūjā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use properly sourced, pure, well-burnt bhasma (vibhūti) for Tripuṇḍra and Śiva-pūjā; the emphasis is on sanctified origin and purity rather than casual ash.