Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 84

शिवशक्त्यैक्य-तत्त्वविचारः / Inquiry into the Unity of Śiva and Śakti

Para–Apara Ontology

Devanagari script

विभूतिमेतां शिवयोर्योग्येभ्यो यः प्रदापयेत् । संसारसागरान्मुक्तः शिवसायुज्यमाप्नुयात्

Transliteration

vibhūtimetāṃ śivayoryogyebhyo yaḥ pradāpayet | saṃsārasāgarānmuktaḥ śivasāyujyamāpnuyāt

Translation

Whoever bestows this sacred vibhūti of Śiva (holy ash) upon worthy recipients is freed from the ocean of saṃsāra and attains sāyujya—complete union with Lord Śiva.

Word by Word

• विभूतिम्: sacred ash; vibhūti
• विभूतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभूति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• एताम्: this
• एताम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शिवयोः: of Śiva (and Śivā)
• शिवयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (6th/सम्बन्ध), द्विवचन; 'of the two Śivas' (Śiva and Śivā/Umā)

• योग्येभ्यः: to the worthy
• योग्येभ्यः: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: योग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण, पुल्लिङ्ग, चतुर्थी विभक्ति (4th/सम्प्रदान), बहुवचन

• यः: who (he who)
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• प्रदापयेत्: should bestow/give
• प्रदापयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + दा (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; causative of √दा = to cause to give/bestow

• संसार-सागरात्: from the ocean of transmigration
• संसार-सागरात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसार (प्रातिपदिक) + सागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: संसारस्य सागरः), पुल्लिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति (5th/अपादान), एकवचन

• मुक्तः: freed
• मुक्तः: Karta-predicative (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुच् (धातु) → मुक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'released'

• शिव-सायुज्यम्: union with Śiva (sāyujya)
• शिव-सायुज्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + सायुज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: शिवस्य सायुज्यम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• आप्नुयात्: would attain
• आप्नुयात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; √आप् = to attain

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Connects distribution of Śiva’s vibhūti (bhasma) to liberation: giving sacred ash to worthy devotees is meritorious and conduces to freedom from saṃsāra and attainment of Śiva-sāyujya.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that vibhūti is not merely a ritual substance but a Shaiva sacrament; sharing it with worthy devotees is a meritorious act that helps destroy saṁsāric bondage and culminates in Śiva-sāyujya (union with Śiva).

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

Vibhūti is closely tied to Saguna Śiva worship—especially Linga-pūjā—where ash is revered as Śiva’s sign and applied as Tripuṇḍra; giving it supports and spreads Linga-centered devotion among qualified seekers.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is vibhūti-sevā: reverently obtaining consecrated ash, applying Tripuṇḍra with remembrance of Śiva (often alongside the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and offering or gifting vibhūti to worthy devotees as a dharmic act.