Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 5

मङ्गलाचरणम्, तीर्थ-परिसरः, सूतागमनम् — Invocation, Sacred Setting, and the Arrival of Sūta

Devanagari script

मुनयश्शंसितात्मानः सत्यव्रतपरायणाः । महौजसो महाभागा महासत्रं वितेनिरे

Transliteration

munayaśśaṃsitātmānaḥ satyavrataparāyaṇāḥ | mahaujaso mahābhāgā mahāsatraṃ vitenire

Translation

Jene Weisen—lobenswert im Wandel, den auf Wahrheit gegründeten Gelübden hingegeben—von großer geistiger Strahlkraft und hohem Glück, richteten ein großes Opferkollegium (mahāsatra) aus und begannen es.

Word by Word

• munayaḥ: sages
• munayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• śaṃsita-ātmānaḥ: of praised character
• śaṃsita-ātmānaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaṃsita (शंस् धातु-निष्पन्न कृदन्त, क्त) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; bahuvrīhi: ‘those whose selves are praised/commended’

• satya-vrata-parāyaṇāḥ: devoted to truthful vows
• satya-vrata-parāyaṇāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satya + vrata + parāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; ‘devoted to vows of truth’

• mahā-ojasaḥ: very vigorous
• mahā-ojasaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + ojas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; ‘of great vigor’

• mahā-bhāgāḥ: highly fortunate
• mahā-bhāgāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; ‘greatly fortunate/noble’

• mahā-satram: a great sacrificial session
• mahā-satram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + satra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• vitenire: they performed/arranged
• vitenire: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tan (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); ātmanepada; vi+tan → ‘to spread/arrange/perform’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Sages (Munis)

FAQs

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

It establishes the adhikāra (fitness) of the listeners: truth-vows, self-discipline, and inner tejas create the purity needed to receive Shiva-tattva teachings where Pati (Shiva) liberates the bound soul (paśu) from pāśa.

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

The mahāsatra reflects ordered, rule-based worship (vidhi) that supports saguna-upāsanā—approaching Shiva through sacred forms and rites—so the mind becomes steady enough to contemplate Shiva beyond form as well.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt satya-vrata (truthful living) with disciplined observance; perform sattvic worship such as japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and regular pūjā as a sustained ‘satra-like’ practice.