Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 16

शिवसंस्कार-दीक्षानिरूपणम् (Śivasaṃskāra and the Typology of Dīkṣā)

Devanagari script

लक्षणं शक्तिपातस्य प्रबोधानंदसंभवः । सा यस्मात्परमा शक्तिः प्रबोधानंदरूपिणी

Transliteration

lakṣaṇaṃ śaktipātasya prabodhānaṃdasaṃbhavaḥ | sā yasmātparamā śaktiḥ prabodhānaṃdarūpiṇī

Translation

Das Kennzeichen des Herabkommens göttlicher Gnade (śaktipāta) ist das Entstehen erwachten Glückseligkeit. Denn jene höchste Kraft ist ihrem Wesen nach Erwachen und Ānanda.

Word by Word

• लक्षणम्: the characteristic
• लक्षणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शक्तिपातस्य: of the descent of power (śaktipāta)
• शक्तिपातस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति + पात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: शक्ति-पात (शक्तेः पातः); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (genitive/6th), एकवचन

• प्रबोध: awakening
• प्रबोध: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रबोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• आनन्द: bliss
• आनन्द: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• सम्भवः: the arising of bliss from awakening
• सम्भवः: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: प्रबोध-आनन्द-सम्भवः (प्रबोधेन आनन्दस्य सम्भवः / प्रबोधानन्दयोः सम्भवः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सा: that (she)
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; अन्वयः—सा (शक्तिः)

• यस्मात्: from which, because of which
• यस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (from which/because of which)

• परमा: supreme
• परमा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'शक्तिः' इत्यस्य विशेषण

• शक्तिः: power, śakti
• शक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रबोध: awakening
• प्रबोध: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रबोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• आनन्द: bliss
• आनन्द: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• रूपिणी: having the form of awakening and bliss
• रूपिणी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: प्रबोध-आनन्द-रूपिणी (प्रबोधानन्द-रूपा); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'शक्तिः' इत्यस्य विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames liberation as grace-led awakening: pilgrimage and worship are efficacious when they become vehicles for śaktipāta culminating in prabodha (awakening) and ānanda (bliss).

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Lalitā

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines śaktipāta (the Lord’s grace) by its experiential fruit: inner awakening (prabodha) and spontaneous bliss (ānanda). In Shaiva Siddhanta, this indicates Shiva’s anugraha—grace that loosens bondage (pāśa) and turns the soul toward liberation.

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

Worship of the Linga/Saguna Shiva is a concrete doorway for receiving grace; when devotion and discipline mature, Shiva’s śakti ‘descends’ and manifests as clarity and bliss. The verse points to the inner confirmation of true worship: awakening born of Shiva’s Supreme Power.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Sincere japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady meditation and purity of conduct is implied as a grace-invoking discipline; the practical measure is the growth of prabodha (wakeful discernment) and ānanda (quiet bliss), rather than mere outer display.