Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 34

शक्तितत्त्ववर्णनम् / Exposition of the Principle of Śakti

Devanagari script

सांगा ऽनंगा च या सेवा सा भक्तिरिति कथ्यते । सा पुनर्भिद्यते त्रेधा मनोवाक्कायसाधनैः

Transliteration

sāṃgā 'naṃgā ca yā sevā sā bhaktiriti kathyate | sā punarbhidyate tredhā manovākkāyasādhanaiḥ

Translation

Der Dienst an Śiva—sei er mit äußeren Observanzen (mit „Gliedern“) oder als innerliche, formlose Hingabe (ohne „Glieder“)—wird Bhakti genannt. Diese Bhakti wird wiederum dreifach unterschieden, je nach Übung durch Geist, Wort und Körper.

Word by Word

• साङ्गा: with (external) limbs/acts
• साङ्गा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन (sg.); समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘अङ्गैः सह’ = with limbs/with external acts); विशेषण—‘सेवा’

• अनङ्गा: without (external) limbs/acts
• अनङ्गा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन् + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन (sg.); नञ्-तत्पुरुष (‘अङ्गरहित’); विशेषण—‘सेवा’

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

• या: which
• या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन (sg.); सम्बन्धबोधक सर्वनाम (relative)

• सेवा: service
• सेवा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन (sg.)

• सा: that
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन (sg.); तद्-प्रत्यय (correlative)

• भक्तिः: devotion
• भक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन (sg.)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• कथ्यते: is called
• कथ्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.); कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• सा: it
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन (sg.)

• पुनः: again, further
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय (adverb)

• भिद्यते: is divided
• भिद्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भिद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.); कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग (is divided)

• त्रेधा: in three ways
• त्रेधा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रेधा (अव्यय; त्रि)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रातिपदिक-रूप; समासपूर्वपद (in compound)

• वाक्: speech
• वाक्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रातिपदिक-रूप; समासमध्यपद (in compound)

• काय: body
• काय: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रातिपदिक-रूप; समासमध्यपद (in compound)

• साधनैः: by the means (of mind, speech, and body)
• साधनैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), तृतीया विभक्ति (3rd/करण), बहुवचन (pl.); समासः—द्वन्द्वः (मनः+वाक्+काय इति त्रयाणां साधनानि)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Defines bhakti as sevā both external (sāṅgā) and internal (anaṅgā), legitimizing temple worship and inward contemplation as complementary; supports integrated pilgrimage-temple and yogic devotion.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines bhakti as Śiva-sevā in both external (ritual-supported) and internal (formless, contemplative) ways, and teaches that true devotion must be integrated across mind, speech, and body.

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

“Sāṅgā” devotion aligns with Saguna worship such as Liṅga-pūjā using offerings and prescribed rites, while “anaṅgā” points to inward Liṅga-bhāvanā—meditative absorption in Śiva beyond mere external acts.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice bhakti in three channels: mentally contemplate Śiva and repeat the Pañcākṣarī, verbally chant stotras/japa, and physically perform pūjā and service—optionally with Shaiva supports like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as part of sāṅgā worship.