Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 23

शिवसंस्कार-दीक्षानिरूपणम् (Śivasaṃskāra and the Typology of Dīkṣā)

Devanagari script

श्रेयो ऽर्थी यदि गुर्वाज्ञां मनसापि न लंघयेत् । गुर्वाज्ञापालको यस्माज्ज्ञानसंपत्तिमश्नुते

Transliteration

śreyo 'rthī yadi gurvājñāṃ manasāpi na laṃghayet | gurvājñāpālako yasmājjñānasaṃpattimaśnute

Translation

Wer das höchste Heil begehrt, soll den Befehl des Guru nicht einmal im Geist übertreten. Denn wer die Weisung des Guru bewahrt, erlangt den Reichtum wahren Wissens.

Word by Word

• श्रेयः: the good/welfare
• श्रेयः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; अर्थी-शब्दस्य कर्म (object of desire)

• अर्थी: desiring
• अर्थी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण/कर्तृवाचक (one who desires)

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/condition marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक-अव्यय (conditional 'if')

• गुरु-आज्ञाम्: the guru's command
• गुरु-आज्ञाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-सम्बन्धः: 'गुरोः आज्ञा'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• मनसा: by (one's) mind
• मनसा: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; करण (by mind)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारार्थक-अव्यय (even/also)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• लङ्घयेत्: should transgress
• लङ्घयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लङ्घ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गुरु-आज्ञा-पालकः: one who follows the guru's command
• गुरु-आज्ञा-पालकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक) + पालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-सम्बन्धः: 'गुरोः आज्ञा' + तद्-पालकः = keeper of guru's command); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• यस्मात्: because
• यस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु/Reason)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: यस्मात्-इति निपातवत् (ablatival relative); पञ्चमी-एकवचन-रूपेण हेत्वर्थे (because/from which)

• ज्ञान-संपत्तिम्: attainment of knowledge
• ज्ञान-संपत्तिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + संपत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-सम्बन्धः: 'ज्ञानस्य संपत्तिः' = attainment/wealth of knowledge); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अश्नुते: attains
• अश्नुते: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that the seeker of śreyas (liberation-oriented good) must maintain unwavering inner discipline by honoring the guru’s instruction even mentally; such integrity becomes the direct cause for jñāna to arise, culminating in Shaiva realization of Pati (Shiva).

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

In Shaiva practice, Linga-worship and Saguna Shiva-upāsanā are traditionally received through the guru’s upadeśa; following that instruction without inner rebellion preserves purity of intention (bhāva) and steadiness (niṣṭhā), which ripens devotion into knowledge.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It implies guru-niṣṭhā: daily japa of the mantra given by the guru (often the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), performed with mental non-transgression (no inner refusal), alongside simple disciplined observances such as Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and Rudrākṣa if prescribed by the guru.