Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

सदा संचारितैश्चारैर्लोकवृत्तांतवेदनम् । सदास्त्रधारणं चैव भस्मकंचुकधारणम्

Transliteration

sadā saṃcāritaiścārairlokavṛttāṃtavedanam | sadāstradhāraṇaṃ caiva bhasmakaṃcukadhāraṇam

Translation

Durch Späher, die ständig in Bewegung gehalten wurden, bestand fortwährende Kenntnis von den Angelegenheiten und Geschehnissen der Welt; und stets trug man Waffen und legte auch den Mantel aus heiliger Asche (bhasma) als sakrale Bedeckung an.

Word by Word

• सदा: always
• सदा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• संचारितैः: by (those) dispatched / sent about
• संचारितैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + चर् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) → संचारित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle) विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• चारैः: by spies/agents
• चारैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• लोक: world/people
• लोक: सम्बन्ध (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (compound-member)

• वृत्तान्त: news/account
• वृत्तान्त: सम्बन्ध (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्तान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (compound-member); समासः वृत्त + अन्त (तत्पुरुष)

• वेदनम्: knowing/ascertaining (information)
• वेदनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद् (धातु) + ल्युट् (कृदन्त) → वेदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भाववाचक-नाम (action noun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः लोक-वृत्तान्त-वेदनम् (तत्पुरुष)

• सदा: always
• सदा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• अस्त्र: weapon
• अस्त्र: सम्बन्ध (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (compound-member)

• धारणम्: bearing/holding
• धारणम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृ (धातु) + ल्युट् (कृदन्त) → धारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भाववाचक-नाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः अस्त्र-धारणम् (तत्पुरुष)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/also
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• भस्म: ashes
• भस्म: सम्बन्ध (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन्/भस्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (compound-member)

• कञ्चुक: cloak/garment
• कञ्चुक: सम्बन्ध (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कञ्चुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (compound-member)

• धारणम्: wearing/putting on
• धारणम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृ (धातु) + ल्युट् (कृदन्त) → धारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भाववाचक-नाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः भस्म-कञ्चुक-धारणम् (तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents the ideal of vigilant, disciplined Shaiva life: outward alertness to worldly movements and inward renunciation symbolized by bhasma, reminding the devotee that all forms return to ash and that Pati (Shiva) alone is the refuge.

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

Wearing bhasma is a classic Saguna-Shiva marker of devotion and identity; it supports Linga-worship by sanctifying the body as a temple and keeping the mind aligned with Shiva’s purity and detachment.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse points to regular bhasma-dhāraṇa (often as Tripuṇḍra) along with disciplined conduct; as a practice, apply sacred ash with remembrance of Shiva and recitation of Shiva-mantras such as the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).