Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 18

शिवाचार्याभिषेकविधिः / Rite of Consecrating a Śiva-Teacher (Śivācārya Abhiṣeka)

Devanagari script

शिष्यान्परिक्ष्य यत्नेन शिवशास्त्रोक्तलक्षणैः । संस्कृत्य च शिवज्ञानं तेभ्यो दद्याच्च देशिकः

Transliteration

śiṣyānparikṣya yatnena śivaśāstroktalakṣaṇaiḥ | saṃskṛtya ca śivajñānaṃ tebhyo dadyācca deśikaḥ

Translation

Nachdem der Lehrer die Schüler sorgfältig nach den in den Śiva-Śāstras gelehrten Merkmalen geprüft hat, soll er sie rechtmäßig reinigen und läutern und ihnen dann die Erkenntnis Śivas vermitteln.

Word by Word

• शिष्यान्: disciples
• शिष्यान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन

• परीक्ष्य: having examined
• परीक्ष्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि√ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having examined’

• यत्नेन: with effort
• यत्नेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• शिवशास्त्रोक्तलक्षणैः: by the characteristics stated in Śiva’s scripture
• शिवशास्त्रोक्तलक्षणैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव-शास्त्र-उक्त-लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; समास-विग्रहः: शिवस्य शास्त्रे उक्तानि लक्षणानि येषां तैः (by the characteristics stated in Śiva’s scripture)

• संस्कृत्य: having purified/formed
• संस्कृत्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्√कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having refined/purified’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• शिवज्ञानम्: knowledge of Śiva
• शिवज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव-ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समास-विग्रहः: शिवस्य ज्ञानम् (knowledge of Śiva)

• तेभ्यः: to them
• तेभ्यः: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (सामान्य), चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), बहुवचन

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• देशिकः: the teacher (preceptor)
• देशिकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देशिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s doctrinal teaching within the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes that Śiva-jñāna is transmitted through a qualified guru to a prepared disciple; purification, discipline, and right qualifications are essential for the liberating knowledge of Pati (Śiva) to remove pāśa (bondage).

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

Linga and Saguna worship become truly transformative when guided by the deśika: the disciple is trained in correct understanding and practice so devotion matures into Śiva-jñāna rather than remaining mere external observance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It implies dīkṣā and disciplined preparation under a guru—regular mantra-japa (often the Pañcākṣarī), along with purificatory observances such as bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa as prescribed in Śaiva practice.