Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 52

दशशैवव्रतप्रश्नः — Inquiry into the Ten Principal Śaiva Vratas

Devanagari script

चन्दनेन विचित्रेण तण्डुलैश्चाप्यखण्डितैः । कृष्णैश्चैव तिलैः पूजा कार्या शंभोः परात्मनः

Transliteration

candanena vicitreṇa taṇḍulaiścāpyakhaṇḍitaiḥ | kṛṣṇaiścaiva tilaiḥ pūjā kāryā śaṃbhoḥ parātmanaḥ

Translation

以芬芳而多彩的檀香膏，以完整不碎的米粒，并以黑芝麻，当为商布——至上自性、内住之主——而行供养礼拜。

Word by Word

• चन्दनेन: with sandalwood
• चन्दनेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• विचित्रेण: variegated, fine
• विचित्रेण: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘चन्दनेन’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• तण्डुलैः: with rice grains
• तण्डुलैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तण्डुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (also)

• अखण्डितैः: unbroken
• अखण्डितैः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखण्डित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; ‘तण्डुलैः’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• कृष्णैः: black
• कृष्णैः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; ‘तिलैः’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis)

• तिलैः: with sesame seeds
• तिलैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• पूजा: worship
• पूजा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कार्या: should be performed
• कार्या: Vidhi (विधि/Obligation predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृ-धातोः यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (to be done)

• शंभोः: of Śambhu
• शंभोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• परात्मनः: of the Supreme Self
• परात्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘परः आत्मा’); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; ‘शंभोः’ इत्यस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that simple, sattvic offerings—sandal paste, unbroken rice, and black sesame—become vehicles of bhakti when directed to Śambhu as the Paramātman, emphasizing Shiva as both the worshiped form (saguṇa) and the indwelling Supreme Reality.

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

These are standard upacāras used in Śiva-liṅga pūjā: sandal paste for auspiciousness and cooling grace, akṣata (unbroken rice) for wholeness and sanctity, and tilas for purification—honoring Saguna Shiva while remembering Him as the Supreme Self.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Śiva pūjā using sandal paste, akṣata (whole rice), and black sesame; while offering, contemplate Shiva as the inner Lord and support the act with japa such as the Pañcākṣarī mantra, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”