Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

राज्ञां ममाश्रमस्थानामेष धर्मस्य संग्रहः । गोरक्षणं च वाणिज्यं कृषिर्वैश्यस्य कथ्यते

Transliteration

rājñāṃ mamāśramasthānāmeṣa dharmasya saṃgrahaḥ | gorakṣaṇaṃ ca vāṇijyaṃ kṛṣirvaiśyasya kathyate

Translation

Für Könige und für jene, die in den Disziplinen der Āśramas gefestigt sind, ist dies die knappe Zusammenfassung des Dharma. Für den Vaiśya wird gelehrt, dass seine Pflichten der Schutz des Viehs, Handel und Landwirtschaft sind.

Word by Word

• राज्ञाम्: of kings
• राज्ञाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• मम: my
• मम: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन (genitive pronoun)

• आश्रमस्थानाम्: of the āśrama-stations (orders of life)
• आश्रमस्थानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम-स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; समासः आश्रमस्य स्थानम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• एषः: this
• एषः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• धर्मस्य: of dharma
• धर्मस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• संग्रहः: summary/compendium
• संग्रहः: क्रियापूरक/विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम् + ग्रह् (धातु) + घञ् (कृदन्त) → संग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भाव/कर्तृवाचक-नाम

• गो: cow/cattle
• गो: सम्बन्ध (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (गो-शब्दः), प्रातिपदिक (compound-member)

• रक्षणम्: protection
• रक्षणम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु) + ल्युट् (कृदन्त) → रक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भाववाचक-नाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः गो-रक्षणम् (तत्पुरुष)

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

• वाणिज्यम्: trade/commerce
• वाणिज्यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाणिज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कृषिः: agriculture
• कृषिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• वैश्यस्य: of the Vaiśya
• वैश्यस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• कथ्यते: is said/declared
• कथ्यते: क्रिया (Verb/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

FAQs

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

It frames worldly duty (dharma) as an ordered discipline: when one performs one’s rightful work without harm and with restraint, the mind becomes fit for Shiva-bhakti and for the grace of Pati (Shiva) that loosens the bonds (pāśa).

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

It shows that Linga-worship is supported by dharmic living: honest livelihood, protection of life (symbolized by cattle-protection), and social responsibility become offerings in action, preparing the devotee for steady Saguna Shiva devotion and inner purity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse implies karma-yoga-like discipline: perform one’s duty with purity and remembrance of Shiva—e.g., daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while maintaining truthful work and non-injurious conduct.