Shloka 48

Umāyāḥ Kriyāyoga-Rahasya

The Esoteric Teaching on Umā’s Kriyāyoga

Devanagari script

विष्णुक्रान्तां च तुलसीं वर्जयित्वाखिलं सुमम् । देवीप्रीतिकरं ज्ञेयं कमलन्तु विशेषतः

Transliteration

viṣṇukrāntāṃ ca tulasīṃ varjayitvākhilaṃ sumam | devīprītikaraṃ jñeyaṃ kamalantu viśeṣataḥ

Translation

除去viṣṇukrāntā与圣罗勒tulasī之外，一切花皆可知为令女神欢喜；其中以莲花尤为她所钟爱，最宜供养。

Word by Word

• विष्णु-क्रान्ताम्: Viṣṇukrāntā (a plant)
• विष्णु-क्रान्ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रान्ता (प्रातिपदिक; क्रम् धातु, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विष्णोः क्रान्ता) (वनस्पति-नाम)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (and)

• तुलसीम्: Tulasī
• तुलसीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुलसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वर्जयित्वा: excluding
• वर्जयित्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; ‘having avoided/excluding’

• अखिलम्: all/entire
• अखिलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सुमम् इति विशेषणम्

• सुमम्: flowers
• सुमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘flower’ (collective)

• देवी-प्रीति-करम्: pleasing to the goddess
• देवी-प्रीति-करम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देव्याः प्रीतिः) + उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (प्रीतिकर = प्रीतिं करोति)

• ज्ञेयम्: should be known (as)
• ज्ञेयम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘to be known/should be regarded’

• कमलम्: the lotus
• कमलम्: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विशेषण/विरोधार्थक निपात (but/indeed)

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (adverb) ‘especially’

Speaker

Lord Shiva (instructing about Devī’s worship within Umāsaṃhitā narration)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Defines proper upacāra (flower selection) to avoid aparādha and to maximize Devī-prīti, a practical aid to devotional correctness.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches discernment in devotion: offerings are not merely aesthetic but aligned to the deity’s worship-tradition; pleasing Devī with appropriate flowers cultivates bhakti and purity of intention under Pati’s (Śiva’s) guidance.

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

In Shaiva Siddhanta, Saguna worship uses specific upacāras (offerings) to steady the mind and sanctify emotion; the verse shows Śiva prescribing correct devotional conduct for Devī, complementing Linga-worship by harmonizing Śiva-Śakti devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

In Devī/Umā-pūjā, offer approved flowers—especially lotus—while maintaining mantra-japa and a focused, reverent mind; avoid tulasī and viṣṇukrāntā in this specific Devī-offering context.