Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 25

मन्त्रसिद्धिः, प्रतिबन्धनिरासः, श्रद्धा-नियमाः

Mantra Efficacy, Removal of Obstacles, and the Role of Faith/Discipline

Devanagari script

स्नानार्थे कल्पयेत्तत्र पञ्चगव्यं तु कापिलम् । पञ्चामृतं च पूर्णानि बीजानि च विशेषतः

Transliteration

snānārthe kalpayettatra pañcagavyaṃ tu kāpilam | pañcāmṛtaṃ ca pūrṇāni bījāni ca viśeṣataḥ

Translation

为行沐浴灌顶（abhiṣeka），当于彼处备办由赭黄牝牛迦毗罗（Kapilā）之产物所成的五牛供（pañcagavya）；并备五甘露（pañcāmṛta），以及饱满不碎的谷粒与诸种子，尤当精择。

Word by Word

• स्नान-अर्थे: for bathing
• स्नान-अर्थे: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (चतुर्थी/षष्ठीभाव: ‘स्नानस्य अर्थे’ = for bathing)

• कल्पयेत्: should prepare/arrange
• कल्पयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कॢप्/कल्प् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb: there)

• पञ्चगव्यम्: pañcagavya (five cow-products)
• पञ्चगव्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + गव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (fivefold cow-products)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• कापिलम्: from a tawny (kapila) cow
• कापिलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कापिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘पञ्चगव्यम्’ इति विशेषण

• पञ्चामृतम्: pañcāmṛta (five sweet substances)
• पञ्चामृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अमृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (five nectars)

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

• पूर्णानि: full/whole (unbroken)
• पूर्णानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; ‘बीजानि’ इति विशेषण

• बीजानि: seeds
• बीजानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

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

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय; विशेष + तस्)
• Form: प्रकार/विशेषवाचक अव्यय (adverb: especially)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that approaching Lord Shiva begins with śuddhi (purification): preparing sanctified substances for snāna/abhisheka symbolizes cleansing impurity (mala) and offering one’s best, whole (unbroken) intention to Pati, the liberating Lord.

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

Pañcagavya and pañcāmṛta are classic abhisheka materials for the Shiva-liṅga, supporting Saguna worship where devotion is expressed through tangible offerings that purify the devotee and sanctify the act of reverence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prepare pañcagavya and pañcāmṛta for Shiva abhisheka and keep whole grains/seeds as auspicious supports; while bathing/performing abhisheka, one may steady the mind with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).