Shloka 44

Devanagari script

गोपनीयं प्रयत्नेन न देयं यस्य कस्य चित् । मम भक्ताय दातव्यं यतये वीतरागिणे

Transliteration

gopanīyaṃ prayatnena na deyaṃ yasya kasya cit | mama bhaktāya dātavyaṃ yataye vītarāgiṇe

Translation

“This teaching must be guarded with great care and should not be given to just anyone. It is to be bestowed only upon my devotee—upon a renunciate (yati), free from attachment.”

Word by Word

• gopanīyam: to be kept secret
• gopanīyam: Karma (कर्म) / Predicate complement
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gopanīya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √gup गोपने)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); Gerundive/Obligatory participle (तव्यत्/अनीयर्-अर्थ) used predicatively: ‘to be kept secret’

• prayatnena: with effort
• prayatnena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prayatna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) / Negation
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• deyam: to be given
• deyam: Karma (कर्म) / Predicate complement
• Type: Adjective
• Root: deya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √dā दाने)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); Gerundive (तव्यत्-अर्थ): ‘to be given’ (here negated)

• yasya: of whom/whose
• yasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• kasya: of anyone (of which person)
• kasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• cit: ever/any (indefinite)
• cit: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: cit (अव्यय)
• Form: Enclitic particle (निपात) giving indefiniteness with interrogatives/pronouns

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhaktāya: to a devotee
• bhaktāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• dātavyam: should be given
• dātavyam: Karma (कर्म) / Predicate complement
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dātavya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √dā दाने)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); Gerundive (तव्यत्): ‘should be given’

• yataye: to an ascetic
• yataye: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• vītarāgiṇe: to the dispassionate one
• vītarāgiṇe: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of ‘yataye’
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vītarāgin (प्रातिपदिक: vīta+rāgin)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन); Compound analysis: vīta (past participle of √i ‘gone/removed’) + rāgin (one who has passion) → ‘one whose passion is gone’

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches the Shaiva principle of adhikāra (spiritual eligibility): liberating instruction about Pati (Shiva) is effective when received by a true bhakta whose mind is purified by vairāgya, not by mere curiosity.

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

Linga/Saguna worship is not mere outer ritual; it is meant to mature into inner purity. Shiva emphasizes that the deeper meanings and practices connected to his worship are to be transmitted to those established in devotion and detachment.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is disciplined transmission and practice: approach Shiva through bhakti and renunciation, and receive mantra/teachings through proper initiation and guidance rather than casual sharing.