Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

दुर्लभं शांभवं मत्वा मंत्रमूलं मनीषिणः । शाक्तं शंसीत संस्कारं शिवशास्त्रार्थपारगाः

Transliteration

durlabhaṃ śāṃbhavaṃ matvā maṃtramūlaṃ manīṣiṇaḥ | śāktaṃ śaṃsīta saṃskāraṃ śivaśāstrārthapāragāḥ

Translation

In dem Wissen, dass die Śāmbhava‑Einweihung (aus Śiva geboren) selten ist und die eigentliche Wurzel des Mantras darstellt, sollen die Weisen—die das jenseitige Ufer des Sinnes von Śivas Schriften erreicht haben—auch den Śākta‑Saṃskāra, den Weihe‑Ritus, rühmen.

Word by Word

• दुर्लभम्: rare; hard to obtain
• दुर्लभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘rare/difficult to obtain’ (object-complement with मत्वा)

• शाम्भवम्: the Śāmbhava (means)
• शाम्भवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘Śāmbhava (path/means)’

• मत्वा: having considered
• मत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु) → मत्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having considered/knowing’

• मन्त्र-मूलम्: the root/foundation of mantra
• मन्त्र-मूलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘root of mantra(s)’

• मनीषिणः: the sages; the wise
• मनीषिणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनीषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘the wise’

• शाक्तम्: Śākta; of Śakti
• शाक्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘Śākta (pertaining to Śakti)’ (qualifies संस्कारम्)

• शंसीत: should proclaim; let him declare
• शंसीत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शंस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘let (one) proclaim/commend’

• संस्कारम्: consecration; rite; purification
• संस्कारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संस्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• शिव-शास्त्र-अर्थ-पारगाः: those who have mastered the meaning of Śiva’s scriptures
• शिव-शास्त्र-अर्थ-पारगाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + शास्त्र + अर्थ + पारग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः—(शिवशास्त्र) इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः + (शिवशास्त्रार्थ) इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः + पारगाः (‘those who have gone to the far shore/masters’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti

FAQs

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

It teaches that genuine Śaiva initiation is rare and foundational—“the root of mantra”—and that those grounded in Śiva’s doctrine recognize consecratory disciplines (saṃskāra) as essential supports for spiritual maturation toward Shiva (Pati).

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

By calling Śāmbhava initiation the mantra’s root, the verse points to disciplined, authorized worship—often centered on Saguna Shiva as the Linga—where mantra and consecration stabilize devotion and make the practitioner fit for Śiva-pūjā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It implies receiving proper dīkṣā/saṃskāra and adopting mantra-based practice under scriptural guidance; in Shaiva usage this commonly includes regular japa (e.g., Panchakshara) supported by purificatory observances aligned with Śiva-śāstra.