Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 33

शिवसंस्कार-दीक्षानिरूपणम् (Śivasaṃskāra and the Typology of Dīkṣā)

Devanagari script

श्रेयोर्थी चेन्नरो धीमान्न मिथ्याचारमाचरेत् । गुरोर्हितं प्रियं कुर्यादादिष्टो वा न वा सदा

Transliteration

śreyorthī cennaro dhīmānna mithyācāramācaret | gurorhitaṃ priyaṃ kuryādādiṣṭo vā na vā sadā

Translation

If a wise person seeks the highest good, he should not engage in false or hypocritical conduct. He should always do what is beneficial and dear to the Guru—whether he has been explicitly instructed or not.

Word by Word

• श्रेयः: the good/welfare
• श्रेयः: Samāsa-aṅga (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग in श्रेयोर्थी

• अर्थी: desirous of welfare
• अर्थी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) (of नरः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; समासः—श्रेयः + अर्थी (desirous of welfare)

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्त-अव्यय (conditional particle)

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता) (of आचरेत्/कुर्यात्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• धीमान्: wise
• धीमान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; विशेषण of नरः

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• मिथ्याचारम्: false conduct
• मिथ्याचारम्: Karma (कर्म) (of आचरेत्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मिथ्याचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; समासः—मिथ्या + आचारः (false conduct)

• आचरेत्: should practice
• आचरेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• गुरोः: of the guru
• गुरोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन

• हितम्: benefit
• हितम्: Karma (कर्म) (of कुर्यात्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• प्रियम्: pleasing/dear
• प्रियम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषण of हितम् (or second object)

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• आदिष्टः: (even if) instructed
• आदिष्टः: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-दिś् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; ‘having been instructed/ordered’ (agreeing with नरः)

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that liberation-oriented life (śreyas) in Shaiva Siddhanta depends on inner sincerity and disciplined conduct, not outward pretense; serving the Guru’s welfare aligns the seeker with Shiva’s grace (anugraha).

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

Linga-worship is meant to purify the heart; this verse warns that ritual without integrity becomes mere display. True devotion to Saguna Shiva expresses itself as truthful living and reverent Guru-seva, which makes worship effective.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is daily Guru-seva with ethical restraint—supporting the teacher’s dharmic aims—alongside sincere japa (e.g., the Panchakshara) and disciplined observances, avoiding performative religiosity.