Shiva Purana — Vidyeshvara Samhita — Chapter 22

SiP 1 22.1

इति श्रीशिवमहापुराणे प्रथमायां विद्येश्वरसंहितायां साध्यसाधनखण्डे पार्थिवपूजनवर्णनं नामैकविंशो ऽध्यायः छप्तेर् २२ ऋष्य ऊचुः अग्राह्यं शिवनैवेद्यमिति पूर्वं श्रुतं वचः ब्रूहि तन्निर्णयं बिल्वमाहात्म्यमपि सन्मुने

iti śrīśivamahāpurāṇe prathamāyāṃ vidyeśvarasaṃhitāyāṃ sādhyasādhanakhaṇḍe pārthivapūjanavarṇanaṃ nāmaikaviṃśo 'dhyāyaḥ chapter 22 ṛṣya ūcuḥ agrāhyaṃ śivanaivedyamiti pūrvaṃ śrutaṃ vacaḥ brūhi tannirṇayaṃ bilvamāhātmyamapi sanmune

Thus in the glorious Śiva Mahāpurāṇa, in the first, the Vidyeśvara Saṃhitā, in the section on the goal and the means, the twenty-first chapter, called the description of the earthen(-liṅga) worship. Chapter 22. The sages said: "Śiva's food-offering is not to be taken" — such a statement was heard before; tell us the settled truth of that, and also the greatness of the bilva, O good sage.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 1 22.2

सूत उवाच शृणुध्वंमुनयःसर्वेसावधानतयाधुना ॥ शिव्प्_१,२२। २अब्। सर्वंवदामिसंप्रीत्या धन्या यूयं शिवव्रताः

sūta uvāca śṛṇudhvaṃmunayaḥsarvesāvadhānatayādhunā // śivp_1,22. 2ab/ sarvaṃvadāmisaṃprītyā dhanyā yūyaṃ śivavratāḥ

Sūta said: Listen now, all you sages, with attention; I shall tell everything with great pleasure. Blessed are you, whose vow is Śiva.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 1 22.3

शिवभक्तः शुचिः शुद्धः सद्व्रतीदृढनिश्चयः भक्षयेच्छिवनैवेद्यंत्यजेदग्राह्यभावनाम्

śivabhaktaḥ śuciḥ śuddhaḥ sadvratīdṛḍhaniścayaḥ bhakṣayecchivanaivedyaṃtyajedagrāhyabhāvanām

A devotee of Śiva, clean, pure, of good observance, of firm resolve, should eat Śiva's food-offering and abandon the notion that it is not to be taken.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 1 22.4

दृष्ट्वापि शिवनैवेद्ये यांति पापानि दूरतः भक्तेतुशिवनैवेद्येपुण्यान्या यांतिकोटिशः

dṛṣṭvāpi śivanaivedye yāṃti pāpāni dūrataḥ bhaktetuśivanaivedyepuṇyānyā yāṃtikoṭiśaḥ

Merely by seeing Shiva's food-offering, sins go far away; but when Shiva's food-offering is eaten, merits come by the tens of millions.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 1 22.5

अलं यागसहस्रेणाप्यलं यागार्बुदैरपि भक्षिते शिवनैवेद्ये शिवसायुज्यमाप्नुयात्

alaṃ yāgasahasreṇāpyalaṃ yāgārbudairapi bhakṣite śivanaivedye śivasāyujyamāpnuyāt

Enough of a thousand sacrifices, enough even of hundreds of millions of sacrifices—when Shiva's food-offering has been eaten, one would attain union with Shiva.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 1 22.6

यद्गृहेशिवनैवेद्यप्रचारोपिप्रजायते तद्गृहंपावनंसर्वमन्यपावनकारणम्

yadgṛheśivanaivedyapracāropiprajāyate tadgṛhaṃpāvanaṃsarvamanyapāvanakāraṇam

In whatever house the distribution of Shiva's food-offering takes place, that whole house is purifying, and a cause of purifying others.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 1 22.7

आगतं शिवनैवेद्यं गृहीत्वा शिरसामुदा भक्षणीयंप्रयत्ने न शिवस्मरणपूर्वकम्

āgataṃ śivanaivedyaṃ gṛhītvā śirasāmudā bhakṣaṇīyaṃprayatne na śivasmaraṇapūrvakam

When Shiva's food-offering has arrived, having taken it on the head with joy, it should be eaten with effort, preceded by remembrance of Shiva.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 1 22.8

आगतं शिवनैवेद्यमन्यदा ग्राह्यमित्यपि विलंबेपापसंबंधोभवत्येव हि मानवे

āgataṃ śivanaivedyamanyadā grāhyamityapi vilaṃbepāpasaṃbaṃdhobhavatyeva hi mānave

(To say) "Shiva's food-offering has arrived; it is to be taken at another time"—by that delay a connection with sin indeed arises for a man.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 1 22.9

न यस्य शिवनैवेद्यग्रहणेच्छाप्रजायते सपापिष्ठोगरिष्ठःस्यान्नरकंयात्यपिध्रुवम्

na yasya śivanaivedyagrahaṇecchāprajāyate sapāpiṣṭhogariṣṭhaḥsyānnarakaṃyātyapidhruvam

He in whom no desire arises to receive Shiva's food-offering—he would be the worst and gravest of sinners, and he surely goes to hell too.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 1 22.10

हृदये चन्द्रकान्ते च स्वर्णरूप्यादिनिर्मिते शिवदीक्षावताभक्तेनेदंभक्ष्यमितीर्यते

hṛdaye candrakānte ca svarṇarūpyādinirmite śivadīkṣāvatābhaktenedaṃbhakṣyamitīryate

It is declared that this is to be eaten by a devotee possessed of Shiva-initiation, (in the case of a liṅga) on the heart, and one of moonstone, and one made of gold, silver and the like.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

SiP 1 22.11

शिवदीक्षान्वितोभक्तो महाप्रसादसंज्ञकम् सर्वेषामपि लिंगानां नैवेद्यं भक्षयेच्छुभम्

śivadīkṣānvitobhakto mahāprasādasaṃjñakam sarveṣāmapi liṃgānāṃ naivedyaṃ bhakṣayecchubham

A devotee endowed with Shiva-initiation should eat the auspicious food-offering, called mahāprasāda, of all the liṅgas whatsoever.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 1 22.12

अन्यदीक्षायुजांन्ःणांशिवभक्तिरतात्मनाम् शृणुध्वंनिर्णयंप्रीत्याशिवनैवेद्यभक्षणे

anyadīkṣāyujāṃnḥṇāṃśivabhaktiratātmanām śṛṇudhvaṃnirṇayaṃprītyāśivanaivedyabhakṣaṇe

Hear now with affection the ruling concerning the eating of Shiva's food-offering by men joined to other initiations, whose minds delight in devotion to Shiva.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 1 22.13

शालग्रामोद्भवे लिंगे रसलिंगेतथा द्विजाः पाषाणे राजतेस्वर्णेसुरसिद्धप्रतिष्ठिते

śālagrāmodbhave liṃge rasaliṃgetathā dvijāḥ pāṣāṇe rājatesvarṇesurasiddhapratiṣṭhite

In a liṅga arisen from a Śālagrāma, and likewise in a mercury-liṅga, O twice-born, in one of stone, of silver, of gold, (and in one) installed by a god or a Siddha—

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 1 22.14

काश्मीरे स्फाटिकेरात्ने ज्योतिर्लिंगेषु सर्वशः चान्द्रायणसमं प्रोक्तं शंभोर्नैवेद्यभक्षणम्

kāśmīre sphāṭikerātne jyotirliṃgeṣu sarvaśaḥ cāndrāyaṇasamaṃ proktaṃ śaṃbhornaivedyabhakṣaṇam

in a Kashmir (stone one), in a crystal one, in a jewelled one, and in the jyotirliṅgas in every way—the eating of Śambhu's food-offering is declared equal to the cāndrāyaṇa fast.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 1 22.15

ब्रह्महापि शुचिर्भूत्वा निर्माल्यंयस्तुधारयेत् भक्षयित्वाद्रुतंतस्यसर्वपापं प्रणश्यति

brahmahāpi śucirbhūtvā nirmālyaṃyastudhārayet bhakṣayitvādrutaṃtasyasarvapāpaṃ praṇaśyati

Even a slayer of a brahmin, having become pure, who wears the nirmālya (the remains of the offering)—when he has quickly eaten it, all his sin perishes.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 1 22.16

चंडाधिकारोयत्रास्तितद्भाक्तव्यंनमानवैः चंडाधिकारोनोयत्रभोक्तव्यंतच्चभक्तितः

caṃḍādhikāroyatrāstitadbhāktavyaṃnamānavaiḥ caṃḍādhikāronoyatrabhoktavyaṃtaccabhaktitaḥ

Where the right of Caṇḍa exists, that is not to be eaten by men; where there is no right of Caṇḍa, that is to be eaten, and out of devotion.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 1 22.17

बाणलिंगेचलौहेचसिद्धेलिंगेस्वयंभुवि प्रतिमासुचसर्वासुनचंडोधिकृतोभवेत्

bāṇaliṃgecalauhecasiddheliṃgesvayaṃbhuvi pratimāsucasarvāsunacaṃḍodhikṛtobhavet

In a bāṇaliṅga, in a movable one, in an iron one, in one perfected (by a Siddha), in a self-manifested one, and in all images, Caṇḍa is not entitled.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 1 22.18

स्नापयित्वाविधानेनयोलिंगस्नापनोदकम् त्रिःपिबेत्त्रिविधंपापंतस्येहाशु विनश्यति

snāpayitvāvidhānenayoliṃgasnāpanodakam triḥpibettrividhaṃpāpaṃtasyehāśu vinaśyati

He who, having bathed (the liṅga) according to rule, drinks three times the water of the liṅga's bathing—his threefold sin here quickly perishes.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 1 22.19

अग्राह्यंशिवनैवेद्यं पत्रंपुष्पंफलंजलम् शालग्रामशिलासंगात्सर्वं याति पवित्रिताम्

agrāhyaṃśivanaivedyaṃ patraṃpuṣpaṃphalaṃjalam śālagrāmaśilāsaṃgātsarvaṃ yāti pavitritām

Shiva's food-offering that is not to be taken—leaf, flower, fruit, water—all of it attains purity through contact with a Śālagrāma stone.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 1 22.20

ल्ॐगोपरि च यद्द्रव्यंतदग्राह्यं मुनीश्वराः सुपवित्रं च तज्ज्ञेयं यल्लिंगस्पर्शबाह्यतः

loṃgopari ca yaddravyaṃtadagrāhyaṃ munīśvarāḥ supavitraṃ ca tajjñeyaṃ yalliṃgasparśabāhyataḥ

And whatever substance is upon the liṅga, that is not to be taken, O lords of sages; and that is to be known as thoroughly pure which is outside the liṅga's touch.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 1 22.21

नैवेद्यनिर्णयःप्रोक्त इत्थंवोमुनिसत्तमाः शृणुध्वं बिल्वमाहात्म्यं सावधानतया ऽदरात्

naivedyanirṇayaḥprokta itthaṃvomunisattamāḥ śṛṇudhvaṃ bilvamāhātmyaṃ sāvadhānatayā 'darāt

Thus the ruling on the food-offering has been declared to you, O best of sages; hear now the greatness of the bilva, attentively and with reverence.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 1 22.22

महादेवस्वरूपोयं बिल्वोदेवैरपिस्तुतिः यथाकथंचिदेतस्यमहिमाज्ञायतेकथम्

mahādevasvarūpoyaṃ bilvodevairapistutiḥ yathākathaṃcidetasyamahimājñāyatekatham

This bilva is of the very form of Mahādeva; it is praised even by the gods. How can its greatness be known in any way at all?

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 1 22.23

पुण्यतीर्थानियावंतिलोकेषुप्रथितान्यपि तानिसर्वाणितीर्थानिबिल्वमूलेवसंतिहि

puṇyatīrthāniyāvaṃtilokeṣuprathitānyapi tānisarvāṇitīrthānibilvamūlevasaṃtihi

However many holy bathing-places there are, renowned in the worlds—all those places indeed dwell at the root of the bilva.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 1 22.24

बिल्वमूले महादेवं लिंगरूपिणमव्ययम् यः पूजयति पुण्यात्मा स शिवं प्राप्नुयाद्ध्रुवम्

bilvamūle mahādevaṃ liṃgarūpiṇamavyayam yaḥ pūjayati puṇyātmā sa śivaṃ prāpnuyāddhruvam

He who, being of meritorious soul, worships at the root of the bilva Mahādeva, the imperishable one in the form of the liṅga, will surely attain Śiva.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 1 22.25

बिल्वमूले जलैर्यस्तु मूर्धानमभिषिंचति स सर्वतीर्थस्नातःस्यात्स एव भुवि पावनः

bilvamūle jalairyastu mūrdhānamabhiṣiṃcati sa sarvatīrthasnātaḥsyātsa eva bhuvi pāvanaḥ

He who at the root of the bilva sprinkles his head with water becomes one who has bathed in all sacred fords; he alone is a purifier on earth.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 1 22.26

एतस्यबिल्वमूलस्याथालवालमनुत्तमम् जलाकुलंमहादेवोदृष्ट्वातुष्टोभवत्यलम्

etasyabilvamūlasyāthālavālamanuttamam jalākulaṃmahādevodṛṣṭvātuṣṭobhavatyalam

Further, the water-basin at the root of this bilva is unsurpassed; seeing it filled with water, Mahādeva becomes fully pleased.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 1 22.27

पूजयेद्विल्वमूलं यो गंधपुष्पादिभिर्नरः शिवलोकमवाप्नोतिसंततिर्वर्धते सुखम्

pūjayedvilvamūlaṃ yo gaṃdhapuṣpādibhirnaraḥ śivalokamavāpnotisaṃtatirvardhate sukham

The man who worships the root of the bilva with fragrances, flowers and the rest attains the world of Śiva, and his progeny increases happily.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 1 22.28

बिल्वमूले दीपमालांयः कल्पयति सादरम् सतत्त्वज्ञानसंपन्नोमहेशांतर्गतोभवेत्

bilvamūle dīpamālāṃyaḥ kalpayati sādaram satattvajñānasaṃpannomaheśāṃtargatobhavet

He who reverently arranges a row of lamps at the root of the bilva becomes endowed with knowledge of reality and enters into Maheśa.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 1 22.29

बिल्वशाखां समादाय हस्तेन नवपल्लवम् गृहीत्वापूजयेद्बिल्वंसचपापैः प्रमुच्यते

bilvaśākhāṃ samādāya hastena navapallavam gṛhītvāpūjayedbilvaṃsacapāpaiḥ pramucyate

Taking in hand a branch of the bilva with fresh shoots, and having grasped it, he should worship the bilva; and he is released from his sins.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 1 22.30

बिल्वमूले शिवरतं भोजयेद्यस्तु भक्तितः एकंवाकोटिगुणितंतस्यपुण्यंप्रजायते

bilvamūle śivarataṃ bhojayedyastu bhaktitaḥ ekaṃvākoṭiguṇitaṃtasyapuṇyaṃprajāyate

He who with devotion feeds one devoted to Śiva at the root of the bilva — even for a single one, the merit that arises for him is multiplied ten million times.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 1 22.31

बिल्वमूले क्षीरमुक्तमन्नमाज्येन संयुतम् यो दद्याच्छिवभक्ताय स दरिद्रो न जायते

bilvamūle kṣīramuktamannamājyena saṃyutam yo dadyācchivabhaktāya sa daridro na jāyate

He who at the root of the bilva gives to a devotee of Śiva milk, and the said food joined with ghee, is not born poor.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 1 22.32

सांगोपांगमिति प्रोक्तं शिवलिंगप्रपूजनम् प्रवृत्तानां निवृत्तानां भेदतो द्विविधं द्विजाः

sāṃgopāṃgamiti proktaṃ śivaliṃgaprapūjanam pravṛttānāṃ nivṛttānāṃ bhedato dvividhaṃ dvijāḥ

Thus has the worship of the Śiva-liṅga been declared with its primary and secondary parts; it is twofold, O twice-born, by the distinction between those engaged in action (pravṛtta) and those turned away from it (nivṛtta).

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 1 22.33

प्रवृत्तानां पीठपूजां सर्वपूजां समाचरेत्

pravṛttānāṃ pīṭhapūjāṃ sarvapūjāṃ samācaret

For those engaged in action (pravṛtta) one should perform the worship of the pedestal and the whole worship.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 1 22.34

अभिषेकान्ते नैवेद्यं शाल्यन्नेन समाचरेत् पूजान्ते स्थापयेल्लिंगं पुटे शुद्धे पृथग्गृहे

abhiṣekānte naivedyaṃ śālyannena samācaret pūjānte sthāpayelliṃgaṃ puṭe śuddhe pṛthaggṛhe

At the end of the bathing (of the liṅga) he should make the food-offering with rice; at the end of the worship he should place the liṅga in a clean casket in a separate house.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 1 22.35

करपूजानिवृत्तानां स्वभोज्यं तु निवेदयेत् निवृत्तानां परंसूक्ष्मं लिंगमेव विशिष्यते

karapūjānivṛttānāṃ svabhojyaṃ tu nivedayet nivṛttānāṃ paraṃsūkṣmaṃ liṃgameva viśiṣyate

For those who are turned away (nivṛtta), worship in the hand; and he should offer his own food. For the nivṛtta the supreme, subtle liṅga alone is preeminent.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

SiP 1 22.36

विभूत्यभ्यर्चनं कुर्याद्विभूतिं च निवेदयेत् पूजां कृत्वा तथा लिंगंशिरसाधारयेत्सदा

vibhūtyabhyarcanaṃ kuryādvibhūtiṃ ca nivedayet pūjāṃ kṛtvā tathā liṃgaṃśirasādhārayetsadā

He should perform the worship with ash and offer ash as well; and having done the worship, he should always bear the liṅga on his head.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition