Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 56

शिशुकस्य शिवशास्त्रप्राप्तिः (Śiśuka’s Attainment of Śaiva Teaching and Grace)

Devanagari script

पुरा मरीचिना शप्ताः केचिन्मुनिपिशाचकाः । संपीड्य राक्षसैर्भावैस्तपसोविघ्नमाचरन्

Transliteration

purā marīcinā śaptāḥ kecinmunipiśācakāḥ | saṃpīḍya rākṣasairbhāvaistapasovighnamācaran

Translation

In former times, certain piśāca-like beings who had been cursed by Marīci, taking on rākṣasa-like dispositions, oppressed the sages and repeatedly sought to obstruct their austerities (tapas).

Word by Word

• पुरा: formerly/once
• पुरा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• मरीचिना: by Marīci
• मरीचिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरीचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (instrumental), एकवचन

• शप्ताः: cursed
• शप्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शप् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (passive sense)

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक (some)

• मुनिपिशाचकाः: sage-ghouls (muni-like piśācas)
• मुनिपिशाचकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + पिशाचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मुनयः पिशाचकाः इव/मुनिषु पिशाचकाः—‘sage-ghouls’)

• संपीड्य: having oppressed
• संपीड्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + पीड् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्ययभाव

• राक्षसैः: with demonic
• राक्षसैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• भावैः: states/ways
• भावैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तपसः: of austerity
• तपसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विघ्नम्: obstacle
• विघ्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विघ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आचरन्: they practiced/caused
• आचरन्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + चर् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; it frames a tapas-obstruction motif where hostile bhūtas/piśācas (born of a curse) become instruments of vighna against ṛṣis.

Significance: General teaching: obstacles (vighna) arise under māyā/karma; steadfast Śiva-bhakti and tapas lead to protection and eventual grace.

Characters & Entities

• Marici
• Munis
• Rakshasas
• Pishachas

FAQs

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

It highlights that when a seeker advances in tapas, obstructive forces (inner and outer) arise; Shaiva Siddhanta frames these as pasha-like bonds that test steadiness, urging refuge in Pati—Lord Shiva—for protection and completion of sadhana.

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

Obstructions to austerity are traditionally pacified through Saguna Shiva worship—Linga-puja, japa, and offering—so the mind becomes protected and aligned, allowing tapas to mature into Shiva’s grace rather than being derailed by hostile influences.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain protective Shiva-sadhana during tapas: Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) with remembrance of Shiva, and steady meditation to prevent vighnas from disturbing the vow.