Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 3

शिवज्ञान-प्रश्नः तथा सृष्टौ शिवस्य स्वयमाविर्भावः

Inquiry into Śiva-knowledge and Śiva’s self-manifestation in creation

Devanagari script

वर्णाश्रमकृतैर्धर्मैर्विपरीतं क्वचित्समम् । वेदात्षडंगादुद्धृत्य सांख्याद्योगाच्च कृत्स्नशः

Transliteration

varṇāśramakṛtairdharmairviparītaṃ kvacitsamam | vedātṣaḍaṃgāduddhṛtya sāṃkhyādyogācca kṛtsnaśaḥ

Translation

In mancher Hinsicht steht es den Pflichten (Dharma) der Varṇas und Āśramas entgegen, und in mancher Hinsicht stimmt es mit ihnen überein. Es ist in seiner Gesamtheit aus dem Veda mitsamt seinen sechs Hilfswissenschaften, ebenso auch aus Sāṃkhya und Yoga, herausgehoben worden.

Word by Word

• वर्णाश्रमकृतैः: by those made by varṇa-and-āśrama
• वर्णाश्रमकृतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्ण + आश्रम + कृत (कृ धातु-क्त, कृदन्त)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental) बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; समासः तत्पुरुषः (वर्णाश्रमैः कृतैः = made/produced by varṇa and āśrama)

• धर्मैः: by/with dharmas (duties)
• धर्मैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन

• विपरीतम्: contrary/opposite
• विपरीतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपरीत (प्रातिपदिक/क्तान्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• क्वचित्: sometimes
• क्वचित्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb): ‘somewhere/sometimes’

• समम्: equal/similar
• समम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• वेदात्: from the Veda
• वेदात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative) एकवचन

• षडङ्गात्: from the six-limbed (Vedāṅga)
• षडङ्गात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (षड् अङ्गानि यस्य/षडङ्गम्)

• उद्धृत्य: having extracted
• उद्धृत्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + हृ (धातु) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा-समकक्ष)
• Form: ल्यपन्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): ‘having extracted/taken out’

• सांख्यात्: from Sāṃkhya
• सांख्यात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सांख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (मत/शास्त्रनाम), पञ्चमी एकवचन

• योगात्: from Yoga
• योगात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी एकवचन

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

• कृत्स्नशः: entirely
• कृत्स्नशः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृत्स्न (प्रातिपदिक) + शस् (अव्ययीभाव/शस्)
• Form: शस्-प्रत्ययान्त-अव्यय (adverb): ‘entirely/wholly’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Veda

FAQs

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

It frames Shaiva teaching as both transcending and fulfilling social-religious duty: the path to Shiva (Pati) may not be limited by varṇāśrama conventions, yet it remains rooted in Vedic authority and completed through disciplined knowledge (Sāṃkhya) and practice (Yoga).

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

By stating that the teaching is extracted from Veda, Vedāṅgas, Sāṃkhya, and Yoga, the verse legitimizes Saguna Shiva worship (including Linga-upāsanā) as a Veda-grounded sādhanā that can harmonize ritual duty with inner yogic realization, culminating in Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse points to a combined approach: follow dharma where appropriate, and adopt yogic discipline—steady meditation and inner restraint—supported by Veda-based worship such as Shiva mantra-japa (notably the Panchākṣarī) alongside regular devotional observances.