Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 33

भक्ताधिकारि-द्विजधर्म-योगिलक्षणवर्णनम् / Duties of Qualified Devotees and Marks of Yogins

Devanagari script

ममानुशासनं यद्वद्ब्रह्मादीनां प्रवर्तकम् । तथा नराणामन्येषां तन्नियोगः प्रवर्तकः

Transliteration

mamānuśāsanaṃ yadvadbrahmādīnāṃ pravartakam | tathā narāṇāmanyeṣāṃ tanniyogaḥ pravartakaḥ

Translation

كما أنّ أمري يُحرّك برهما وسائر الآلهة إلى الفعل، كذلك للبشر ولسائر الموجودات تكون تلك السنّة نفسها هي القوّة الدافعة لنشاطهم.

Word by Word

• mama: my
• mama: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive), Ekavacana; Sarvanāma

• anuśāsanam: command, instruction
• anuśāsanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anuśāsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• yadvat: just as
• yadvat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadvat (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā/Prakāra (correlative indeclinable/यद्वत् = 'just as')

• brahma-ādīnām: of Brahmā and others
• brahma-ādīnām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana; Tatpuruṣa: brahmādi = 'Brahmā and others'

• pravartakam: impelling, setting in motion
• pravartakam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√vṛt + -aka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā, Ekavacana; agent-noun/adjective meaning 'causing to proceed/impelling'

• tathā: so, likewise
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Prakāra (adverb)

• narāṇām: of men/people
• narāṇām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana

• anyeṣām: of other
• anyeṣām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana; qualifies narāṇām

• tat: that
• tat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā, Ekavacana; demonstrative used as qualifier of niyogaḥ ('that')

• niyogaḥ: injunction/appointment, command
• niyogaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niyoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• pravartakaḥ: impelling, activating
• pravartakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√vṛt + -aka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate adjective to niyogaḥ

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It teaches that all agency ultimately rests in Pati (Shiva): even the highest deities and ordinary beings act under Shiva’s niyoga (divine ordinance), so liberation comes by aligning one’s will and karma with Him.

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

Linga-worship trains the devotee to recognize Shiva as the inner ruler (antaryāmin) and supreme governor; honoring the Linga is honoring the very command that sustains and directs all cosmic and personal action.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice offering all actions to Shiva with the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating niyama (disciplined obedience) and inner surrender as a daily sādhanā.