Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 55

शैवधर्मप्रशंसा तथा पञ्चविधसाधनविभागः / Praise of Śaiva Dharma and the Fivefold Classification of Practice

Devanagari script

निवेदयेत्स्वमात्मानं चुलुकोदकवर्त्मना । एवं कृत्वा चिरादेव ज्ञानं पाशुपतं शुभम्

Transliteration

nivedayetsvamātmānaṃ culukodakavartmanā | evaṃ kṛtvā cirādeva jñānaṃ pāśupataṃ śubham

Translation

以掌中一掬清水（chuluka-udaka）作供献之法，应当郑重奉献自身。如此行持，时至必得吉祥的“兽主派”(Pāśupata)之智——主湿婆解脱的智慧，能斩断束缚之绳。

Word by Word

• निवेदयेत्: should offer/present
• निवेदयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + विद् (धातु) / निवेदय (णिजन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद); causative sense ‘should offer/present’

• स्वम्: one’s own
• स्वम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying ‘आत्मानम्’

• आत्मानम्: self
• आत्मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• चुलुक: of a handful (cupped palm)
• चुलुक: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चुलुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन) as first member in compound

• उदक: of water
• उदक: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन) as middle member in compound

• वर्त्मना: by the method of handful-water (libation)
• वर्त्मना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्त्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); compound: चुलुकोदकवर्त्मन् = ‘by the method/way of handful-water’ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; पूर्वकाले)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), ‘having done’

• चिरात्: after long (time)
• चिरात्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चिरात् (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय) ‘after a long time/long’

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

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• पाशुपतम्: Pāśupata (of Paśupati)
• पाशुपतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाशुपत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying ‘ज्ञानम्’

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying ‘ज्ञानम्’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that liberation begins with ātmā-nivedana—offering the ego-bound self to Paśupati—after which the soul gradually receives Pāśupata jñāna that loosens the pāśas (bonds) and leads toward mokṣa.

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

The palmful-water offering is a simple, Saguna act of devotion (upacāra) that expresses inner surrender; such worship of Śiva (often through the Liṅga with water) becomes the doorway to deeper knowledge of Śiva as Pati, the liberator.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform a water-offering (arghya/ācamana-style, a palmful) while consciously dedicating the entire self to Śiva; the key practice is inner surrender accompanying the outward rite, which ripens into Pāśupata insight.