Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 58

मन्त्रसिद्धिः, प्रतिबन्धनिरासः, श्रद्धा-नियमाः

Mantra Efficacy, Removal of Obstacles, and the Role of Faith/Discipline

Devanagari script

आततायिनमुद्दिश्य प्रकुर्यादाभिचारिकम् । स्वराष्ट्रपतिमुद्दिश्य न कुर्यादाभिचारिकम्

Transliteration

ātatāyinamuddiśya prakuryādābhicārikam | svarāṣṭrapatimuddiśya na kuryādābhicārikam

Translation

Ein feindseliges Zauberritual (abhicāra) darf gegen einen gewalttätigen Angreifer (ātatāyin) gerichtet werden; doch gegen den Herrscher des eigenen Reiches soll man es nicht vollziehen.

Word by Word

• ātatāyinam: an aggressor; assailant
• ātatāyinam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātatāyin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• uddiśya: targeting; with reference to
• uddiśya: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Converb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ud-√diś (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Tumun-arthīya/absolutive (क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त), gerund (अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण), meaning ‘having aimed at/with reference to’

• prakuryāt: should perform
• prakuryāt: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Vidhiliṅ lakāra (Optative/विधिलिङ्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• ābhicārikam: sorcery/abhicāra rite
• ābhicārikam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ābhicārika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• sva-rāṣṭra-patim: the lord/king of one’s own realm
• sva-rāṣṭra-patim: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + rāṣṭra (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (Accusative/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• uddiśya: targeting; with reference to
• uddiśya: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Converb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ud-√diś (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta gerund (ल्यबन्त), converb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (Indeclinable/अव्यय), negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• kuryāt: should do
• kuryāt: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Vidhiliṅ lakāra (Optative/विधिलिङ्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• ābhicārikam: sorcery/abhicāra rite
• ābhicārikam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ābhicārika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (Accusative/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it functions as a dharma-śāsana within the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā, restricting harmful rites (abhicāra) and protecting social order (rājadharma).

Significance: Ethical restraint is framed as a prerequisite for Śiva’s protection; avoiding adharmic abhicāra is treated as safeguarding one’s spiritual merit (puṇya) and social harmony.

FAQs

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

It sets a Shaiva ethical boundary: even where fierce rites are acknowledged, dharma and social order must be protected—harmful intent is restrained, and power is subordinated to righteousness.

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

Linga-worship is meant to purify the heart and align the devotee with Shiva as Pati (the Lord) and dharma; using ritual power for destabilizing one’s rightful ruler contradicts the devotional aim of inner purification and right order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It implies restraint and purification in practice—favoring protective prayer, japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and disciplined, non-harmful worship over aggressive rites driven by anger or ambition.