Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 80

मन्त्रसिद्धिः, प्रतिबन्धनिरासः, श्रद्धा-नियमाः

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

Devanagari script

स्वैरप्रेष्यायते वाणी कीर्तिस्तु गणिकायते । स्वैराचारायते मेधा वज्रसूचीयते मनः

Transliteration

svairapreṣyāyate vāṇī kīrtistu gaṇikāyate | svairācārāyate medhā vajrasūcīyate manaḥ

Translation

إذا سقط المرء في سلوكٍ منفلت، صارت الكلمة كخادمٍ مُستأجَر، وصارت الشهرة كغانية. وتميل الفطنة إلى مسالك الفجور، ويغدو الذهن كإبرةٍ من ألماس: صلبة، حادّة، نافذة.

Word by Word

• svaira-preṣya-āyate: becomes like a wanton servant
• svaira-preṣya-āyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: svaira (प्रातिपदिक) + preṣya (प्रातिपदिक) + √i (धातु) → āyate
• Form: Laṭ, Prathama-puruṣa Ekavacana, Ātmanepada; base compound svairapreṣya (स्वैरप्रेष्य, Tatpuruṣa/Karmadhāraya sense: 'wanton servant/one who serves at will') used for denominative sense

• vāṇī: speech
• vāṇī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana

• kīrtiḥ: fame
• kīrtiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kīrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (निपात) with contrast/emphasis

• gaṇikā-āyate: becomes like a courtesan
• gaṇikā-āyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gaṇikā (प्रातिपदिक) + √i (धातु) → āyate
• Form: Laṭ, Prathama-puruṣa Ekavacana, Ātmanepada; denominative sense 'becomes like a courtesan'

• svaira-ācāra-āyate: turns into wanton conduct
• svaira-ācāra-āyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: svaira (प्रातिपदिक) + ācāra (प्रातिपदिक) + √i (धातु) → āyate
• Form: Laṭ, Prathama-puruṣa Ekavacana, Ātmanepada; base compound svairācāra (स्वैराचार, Tatpuruṣa: 'wanton conduct') used for denominative sense

• medhā: intelligence
• medhā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: medhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana

• vajra-sūcī-āyate: becomes like a diamond-needle
• vajra-sūcī-āyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक) + sūcī (प्रातिपदिक) + √i (धातु) → āyate
• Form: Laṭ, Prathama-puruṣa Ekavacana, Ātmanepada; base compound vajrasūcī (वज्रसूची, Tatpuruṣa/Karmadhāraya: 'diamond-needle') used for denominative sense

• manaḥ: mind
• manaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā Ekavacana

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Kali-yuga: degradation of vāṇī, kīrti, medhā (inner instruments) under mala and māyā

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It warns that unchecked freedom of desire corrupts the inner instruments—speech, reputation, discernment, and mind—making them unstable and harmful, which obstructs Shaiva liberation (moksha) attained through purity and self-restraint.

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is sustained by śauca (purity), dama (restraint), and right conduct; this verse shows how svairācāra erodes those foundations, making devotion performative and reputation-driven rather than a sincere offering to Saguna Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt disciplines aligned with Shiva’s path—daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), steadying the mind through meditation, and living with restraint—so speech and mind become fit instruments for worship.