Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 59

अग्निकार्य-होमविधिः

Agnikārya and Homa Procedure

Devanagari script

न संस्पृशेच्च नीचांगैर्नोपेक्षेत न लंघयेत् । तस्माद्भसितमादाय विनियुंजीत मन्त्रतः

Transliteration

na saṃspṛśecca nīcāṃgairnopekṣeta na laṃghayet | tasmādbhasitamādāya viniyuṃjīta mantrataḥ

Translation

不可使圣灰（bhasma）为不净之肢所触，不可怠慢轻忽，亦不可逾越其神圣。故当取圣灰时，应依真言而用、依真言而涂，恭敬如仪。

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• संस्पृशेत्: should touch
• संस्पृशेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘should touch’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• नीच-अङ्गैः: with low/base limbs (impure parts)
• नीच-अङ्गैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीच (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: कर्मधारय ‘नीचानि अङ्गानि’ (low/base limbs); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (instrumental), बहुवचन; करण

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• उपेक्षेत: should neglect
• उपेक्षेत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘should neglect/ignore’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• लङ्घयेत्: should step over
• लङ्घयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लङ्घ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘should step over/transgress’

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (ablative), एकवचन; ‘therefore/from that’

• भसितम्: ash
• भसितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भसित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त; ‘having taken’

• विनियुञ्जीत: should apply/use
• विनियुञ्जीत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-नि-युज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘should apply/employ’

• मन्त्रतः: with/according to (the) mantra
• मन्त्रतः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी (ablative) एकवचन, अव्ययीभावार्थे (instrumental/means sense via -तः): ‘with/according to mantra’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Mantra Metadata

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that bhasma is not ordinary ash but a sanctified Shaiva sacramental (prasāda-like) aid to sādhana; honoring it with purity and mantra cultivates reverence, discipline, and God-centered awareness—supporting the Siddhānta path where right conduct and right worship purify the pashu (bound soul) toward Shiva.

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

Bhasma is a visible Shaiva mark (often as Tripuṇḍra) that outwardly expresses inner refuge in Saguna Shiva and Linga-worship; applying it with mantra aligns the devotee’s body and mind as instruments of pūjā, making daily life an extension of Linga-sevā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Apply bhasma reverently—avoiding impurity and disrespect—and use it with prescribed mantras (commonly alongside Panchākṣarī/“Om Namaḥ Śivāya” in Shaiva practice), treating the act as a mindful rite rather than a casual gesture.