Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 57

मङ्गलाचरणम्, तीर्थ-परिसरः, सूतागमनम् — Invocation, Sacred Setting, and the Arrival of Sūta

Devanagari script

तदेवं लक्षमुद्दिष्टं शैवं शाखाविभेदतः । पुराणं वेदसारं तद्भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदम्

Transliteration

tadevaṃ lakṣamuddiṣṭaṃ śaivaṃ śākhāvibhedataḥ | purāṇaṃ vedasāraṃ tadbhuktimuktiphalapradam

Translation

Thus, the distinctive mark of the Śaiva teaching has been set forth according to the divisions of its branches. That Purāṇa is the very essence of the Vedas, bestowing the fruits of both bhukti (worldly enjoyment) and mukti (liberation).

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: सम्बन्ध (Reference)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘thus/in this way’)

• लक्षम्: the measure/extent (number)
• लक्षम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उद्दिष्टम्: has been stated/indicated
• उद्दिष्टम्: क्रिया (Verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + दिश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle) ‘उद्दिष्ट’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense: ‘has been stated’)

• शैवम्: Śaiva
• शैवम्: विशेषण (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शाखा-विभेदतः: according to the division of branches
• शाखा-विभेदतः: हेतु/निमित्त (Reason/according to)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शाखा + विभेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) ‘-तः’ = ‘from/according to’; समासः—शाखानां विभेदः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + तः

• पुराणम्: Purāṇa
• पुराणम्: विशेष्य (Head noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वेद-सारम्: the essence of the Veda
• वेद-सारम्: विशेषण (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद + सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—वेदस्य सारः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• तत्-भुक्ति-मुक्ति-फल-प्रदम्: granting the fruits of enjoyment and liberation
• तत्-भुक्ति-मुक्ति-फल-प्रदम्: विशेषण (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् + भुक्ति + मुक्ति + फल + प्रद (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘प्रद’ = प्र + दा (धातु) क्विप्/कृदन्त ‘giver’; समासः—तस्य भुक्तिः च मुक्तिः च (द्वन्द्व-समाहार as internal member) + तयोः फलम् (तत्पुरुष) + तत् प्रदम् (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares the Śiva Purāṇa (here, the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā) as veda-sāra—aligned with Vedic truth—promising both dharmic well-being in life (bhukti) and final liberation (mukti) through Śiva-centered understanding and practice.

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

By calling the text “Śaiva” and “Veda’s essence,” it legitimizes Saguna Śiva-upāsanā—especially Linga worship—as a Vedic-consistent path that can yield immediate blessings and culminate in mukti through Śiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse broadly points to Śaiva sādhana for both aims—regular worship of Śiva (including Linga-pūjā), japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and living by Śaiva dharma as the integrated means to bhukti and mukti.