Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 49

अन्तराय-उपसर्ग-विवेचनम् / Analysis of Yogic Obstacles (Antarāyas) and Upasargas

Devanagari script

न च दुष्टमृगाकीर्णे न भये दुर्जनावृते । श्मशाने चैत्यवल्मीके जीर्णागारे चतुष्पथे

Transliteration

na ca duṣṭamṛgākīrṇe na bhaye durjanāvṛte | śmaśāne caityavalmīke jīrṇāgāre catuṣpathe

Translation

حتى في المواضع المكتظّة بالوحوش الضارية، وحتى في قلب الخوف وبين إحاطة الأشرار—سواء في أرض الحرق، أو قرب كايتيا (مقام تذكاري مقدّس) أو عند تلّ النمل، أو في بيتٍ خَرِب، أو عند مفترق الطرق—لا ينبغي أن يضطرب. فالمتعبّد الراسخ في شيفا يجد في الربّ (پَتي) ملجأه الباطن الذي يقطع قيود الخوف.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

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

• दुष्ट-मृग-आकीर्णे: in (a place) infested with vicious animals
• दुष्ट-मृग-आकीर्णे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + मृग (प्रातिपदिक) + आकीर्ण (कृदन्त; आ-कीर्ण from √कॄ/√कीर्)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; ‘दुष्टमृग’ (कर्मधारय) + आकीर्ण (PPP/क्त)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• भये: in fear/danger
• भये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• दुर्जन-आवृते: in (a place) surrounded by wicked people
• दुर्जन-आवृते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्जन (प्रातिपदिक) + आवृत (कृदन्त; आ-वृत from √वृ)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; तत्पुरुषः ‘दुर्जनैः आवृत’ (instrumental sense inside compound)

• श्मशाने: in a cremation ground
• श्मशाने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्मशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• चैत्य-वल्मीके: at a shrine and an anthill
• चैत्य-वल्मीके: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चैत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वल्मीकि/वल्मीके (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; द्वन्द्वः ‘चैत्य’ (shrine/monument) + ‘वल्मीकि’ (anthill) as a combined locus

• जीर्ण-आगारे: in a dilapidated house
• जीर्ण-आगारे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + आगार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; कर्मधारयः ‘जीर्णम् आगारम्’

• चतुष्पथे: at a crossroads
• चतुष्पथे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुस् (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या) + पथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; द्विगु-समासः ‘चत्वारः पथाः यस्मिन्’ = crossroads

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Although framed as place-avoidance/steadiness teaching, the listed liminal sites (śmaśāna, catuṣpatha) are classic Bhairava-kṣetra markers; the verse supports fear-transcendence through Śiva-niṣṭhā, a key fruit sought by pilgrims at fierce Śaiva shrines.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that fear is a form of pāśa (bondage); steadiness in Śiva-bhakti and inner remembrance of Pati makes the seeker fearless even in outwardly inauspicious or dangerous places.

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

The verse reflects the protective presence of Saguna Śiva accessible through worship and remembrance; the devotee who holds the Lord in the heart sees no place as spiritually prohibitive, because Śiva is the abiding refuge.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady mind; such mantra-remembrance is implied as the discipline that overcomes fear in all conditions.