Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 56

पुष्पार्पण-विनिर्णयः

Determination of Flower-Offerings to Śiva

Devanagari script

तेषां च पूजनादेव शत्रोर्मृत्युरुदाहृतः । आढकीनां दलैश्चैव शोभयित्वार्चयेच्छिवम्

Transliteration

teṣāṃ ca pūjanādeva śatrormṛtyurudāhṛtaḥ | āḍhakīnāṃ dalaiścaiva śobhayitvārcayecchivam

Translation

Chỉ nhờ cúng lễ bằng những phẩm vật ấy thôi, sự “chết” (tức sự tiêu diệt) của kẻ thù được tuyên nói sẽ xảy ra. Sau khi trang nghiêm bằng lá cây āḍhakī, hãy phụng thờ Đức Śiva.

Word by Word

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (of them)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• पूजनात्: from worship
• पूजनात्: अपादान (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अपादान (from worship)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (restrictive particle: only/indeed)

• शत्रोः: of the enemy
• शत्रोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (of the enemy)

• मृत्युः: death
• मृत्युः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तृ/विशेष्य

• उदाहृतः: is declared
• उदाहृतः: कर्मणि विधेय (Predicate: stated)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-आ-हृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि (is declared/said)

• आढकीनाम्: of āḍhakī (a legume)
• आढकीनाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आढकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (of āḍhakī-plants)

• दलैः: with leaves
• दलैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; करण (with leaves)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• एव: indeed
• एव: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक

• शोभयित्वा: having adorned
• शोभयित्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (Gerundial action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुभ्/शोभ् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय, absolutive/gerund); पूर्वक्रिया (having adorned)

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: विधेय क्रिया (Predicate verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the ritual fruits of Śiva-pūjā to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights the phala (fruit) of devoted Śiva-pūjā: when worship is performed with faith and proper offerings, hostile forces are said to be neutralized—symbolizing the destruction of inner enemies like anger, jealousy, and fear under Śiva’s grace (Pati) that loosens bondage (pāśa).

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

The instruction to beautify with leaves and then worship indicates Saguna-upāsanā—honoring Śiva through tangible symbols like the Liṅga and ritual adornment. In Śaiva Siddhānta, such reverent worship purifies the devotee and prepares the soul (paśu) for Śiva’s liberating grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform leaf-offering worship: decorate the Liṅga/altar with āḍhakī leaves and offer them with mantra and devotion (commonly alongside japa of the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), praying for protection and the removal of adversities.