Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 39

अवभृथस्नान-तीर्थयात्रा-तेजोदर्शनम् | Avabhṛtha Bath, Tīrtha-Pilgrimage, and the Vision of Divine Radiance

Devanagari script

पुरा सनत्कुमारोपि दृष्ट्वापि परमेश्वरम् । अज्ञानात्सर्वयोगीन्द्रमानी विनयदूषितः

Transliteration

purā sanatkumāropi dṛṣṭvāpi parameśvaram | ajñānātsarvayogīndramānī vinayadūṣitaḥ

Translation

In früherer Zeit wurde selbst Sanatkumāra—obwohl er Parameśvara geschaut hatte—aus Unwissen hochmütig, wähnte sich als Herr unter allen Yogins, und so wurde seine Demut verdorben.

Word by Word

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kala (काल/temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (temporal adverb)

• सनत्कुमारः: Sanatkumāra
• सनत्कुमारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनत्-कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• परमेश्वरम्: the Supreme Lord
• परमेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अज्ञानात्: from ignorance/through ignorance
• अज्ञानात्: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• सर्वयोगीन्द्रमानी: proud (thinking himself) the lord of all yogis
• सर्वयोगीन्द्रमानी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-योगीन्द्र-मानिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहु-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषां योगीन्द्राणां मानिन्/अभिमानी)

• विनयदूषितः: tainted in humility / lacking proper humility
• विनयदूषितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विनय-दूषित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (विनयेन दूषितः/विनयस्य दूषणयुक्तः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It teaches that mere spiritual attainment or even a vision of Parameśvara is not sufficient if ignorance and ego remain; in Shaiva thought, humility and surrender to Pati (Śiva) are essential for liberation.

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

Seeing Śiva outwardly (as Saguna—Linga, form, or divine presence) must mature into inner transformation; true worship is marked by विनय (humility) and the removal of ajñāna, not self-importance from yogic status.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to pair yoga and japa with ego-purification—daily Panchākṣarī mantra recitation (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined self-offering, so that realization expresses as humility rather than pride.