Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 1

काम्यकर्मविभागः — Taxonomy of Kāmya (Desire-Motivated) Śaiva Rites

Devanagari script

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच । भगवंस्त्वन्मुखादेव श्रुतं श्रुतिसमं मया । स्वाश्रितानां शिवप्रोक्तं नित्यनैमित्तिकं तथा

Transliteration

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca | bhagavaṃstvanmukhādeva śrutaṃ śrutisamaṃ mayā | svāśritānāṃ śivaproktaṃ nityanaimittikaṃ tathā

Translation

Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: “O revered one, I have heard from your own mouth a teaching equal in authority to the Veda—what Śiva has ordained for those who take refuge in Him: the daily observances and the occasional, duty-bound rites as well.”

Word by Word

• श्रीकृष्णः: Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• श्रीकृष्णः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीकृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; समासः—श्री + कृष्ण (कर्मधारय)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• भगवन्: O Lord
• भगवन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन

• त्वत्: your
• त्वत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद्/त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मुखात्: from (your) mouth
• मुखात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Avyaya (अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक

• श्रुतम्: heard
• श्रुतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past Passive Participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन

• श्रुतिसमम्: equal to the Veda/Śruti
• श्रुतिसमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—श्रुत्या समम् (तत्पुरुष)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• स्वाश्रितानाम्: of those who have taken refuge (in you)
• स्वाश्रितानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + आश्रित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (समूह/जन), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन; समासः—स्वे आश्रिताः (तत्पुरुष)

• शिवप्रोक्तम्: spoken by Śiva
• शिवप्रोक्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रोक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—शिवेन प्रोक्तम् (तत्पुरुष)

• नित्यनैमित्तिकम्: (both) daily and occasional (rites)
• नित्यनैमित्तिकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक) + नैमित्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—नित्यं च नैमित्तिकं च (द्वन्द्व, समाहार)

• तथा: and also/likewise
• तथा: Avyaya (अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

Speaker

Sri Krishna

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It affirms that Śiva’s instructions for His devotees carry Veda-like authority and that liberation-oriented life begins with disciplined nitya (daily) and naimittika (occasion-based) duties performed in a spirit of refuge in Pati (Śiva).

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

By highlighting prescribed observances for Śiva’s refuge-seekers, it implicitly supports Saguna worship—regular, faithful practice centered on Śiva (often through Liṅga-pūjā) as the accessible form of the supreme Pati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse points to maintaining daily Śaiva discipline (nitya) and performing prescribed rites on holy occasions (naimittika); in practice this commonly includes regular Śiva-pūjā, mantra-japa (e.g., Pañcākṣarī), and observances aligned with Śaiva vows.