Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 16

स्कन्दसरः (Skandasara) — तीर्थवर्णनम् / Description of the Skandasara Sacred Lake

Devanagari script

स्नानपानादिकरणैः स्वसंपद्द्रुमजीविभिः । प्रणयात्प्राणिभिस्तैस्तैर्भाषमाणमिवासकृत्

Transliteration

snānapānādikaraṇaiḥ svasaṃpaddrumajīvibhiḥ | praṇayātprāṇibhistaistairbhāṣamāṇamivāsakṛt

Translation

那些众生——凭自身福泽而生，如同能满愿的劫波树——忙于沐浴、饮水及诸般侍奉之事，便以深情一再呼唤他，仿佛亲密地与他反复交谈。

Word by Word

• स्नान-पान-आदि-करणैः: with means such as bathing and drinking
• स्नान-पान-आदि-करणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (√स्ना, कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + पान (√पा, कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + करण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व-भावयुक्त तत्पुरुषः: स्नानं पानं च आदयः येषां तानि करणानि

• स्व-संपत्-द्रुम-जीविभिः: with those living on their own prosperity/trees (tree-dwellers)
• स्व-संपत्-द्रुम-जीविभिः: Sahakaraka (सह/साधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + संपत् (प्रातिपदिक) + द्रुम (प्रातिपदिक) + जीविन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/सह), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: स्वसंपदा द्रुमाः, तैः जीविनः (जीविभिः)

• प्रणयात्: out of affection/familiarity
• प्रणयात्: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (हेतु/कारण), एकवचन

• प्राणिभिः: by/with living beings
• प्राणिभिः: Sahakaraka (सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राणिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/सह), बहुवचन

• तैः: by those
• तैः: Sahakaraka (सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/सह), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• तैः: by those (each of them)
• तैः: Sahakaraka (सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/सह), बहुवचन; पुनरुक्ति-विशेषण (distributive: 'each and every')

• भाषमाणम्: speaking
• भाषमाणम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/वर्तमानकृदन्त)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भाष् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ/शानच्-वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle), आत्मनेपद-भावः; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन (विशेष्य-समन्वय)

• इव: as if
• इव: Sambandha (उपमा-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक अव्यय

• असकृत्: repeatedly
• असकृत्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: असकृत् (अव्यय)
• Form: आवृत्ति/बहुवार-वाचक अव्यय (adverb: repeatedly)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a specific Jyotirliṅga; the verse depicts beings offering ‘services’ (snāna, pāna, etc.) in affectionate reciprocity, aligning with bhakti-inflected tīrtha culture.

Significance: Highlights the devotional psychology of the paśu (bound soul/creature) turning toward Pati with intimacy; suggests grace (anugraha) experienced as ‘being addressed’ and welcomed by the sacred environment.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights bhakti expressed as affectionate seva—ordinary acts like bathing and offering drinks become sanctified when performed for or around the Lord, indicating that grace (anugraha) is approached through loving attention rather than mere formality.

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

It reflects Saguna-upasana: devotees relate to Shiva in a personal, intimate way—speaking to Him repeatedly with love—mirroring how worshippers serve and address the Shiva-Linga with offerings, abhisheka, and heartfelt prayer.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Devotional service (seva) performed with affection—such as snana/abhisheka and offering water or drink—paired with repeated, loving remembrance and verbal prayer (japa-like repetition in spirit).