Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 24

भक्ताधिकारि-द्विजधर्म-योगिलक्षणवर्णनम् / Duties of Qualified Devotees and Marks of Yogins

Devanagari script

इति संक्षेपतः प्रोक्तो मयाश्रमनिषेविणाम् । ब्रह्मक्षत्रविशां देवि यतीनां ब्रह्मचारिणाम्

Transliteration

iti saṃkṣepataḥ prokto mayāśramaniṣeviṇām | brahmakṣatraviśāṃ devi yatīnāṃ brahmacāriṇām

Translation

«Así, oh Diosa, he expuesto brevemente las observancias de quienes permanecen en las disciplinas de los āśramas: para los brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas y vaiśyas, y también para los yatīs (renunciantes ascetas) y los brahmacārins (estudiantes célibes).»

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• संक्षेपतः: briefly
• संक्षेपतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: संक्षेपतः (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb: briefly)

• प्रोक्तः: has been stated
• प्रोक्तः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘प्रोक्तः (is) said’

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd/कर्ता-करण), एकवचन

• आश्रमनिषेविणाम्: of those who observe the āśrama-duties
• आश्रमनिषेविणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम + नि + सेव् (धातु) → निषेविन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक ‘निषेविन्’ (one who practices/attends); तत्पुरुष-समास (आश्रमं निषेवते इति)

• ब्रह्मक्षत्रविशाम्: of Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas
• ब्रह्मक्षत्रविशाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म + क्षत्र + विश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (ब्राह्मण-क्षत्रिय-वैश्य)

• देवि: O Goddess
• देवि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• यतीनाम्: of ascetics
• यतीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• ब्रह्मचारिणाम्: of brahmacārins (celibate students)
• ब्रह्मचारिणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (ब्रह्मणि चरति इति)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

It affirms that Shiva’s guidance applies across life-stages and roles—worldly duties and renunciation can both become liberating when aligned with dharma and offered to Pati (Shiva) with devotion.

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

By addressing all āśramas, the verse implies that Linga-worship and devotion to Saguna Shiva are not restricted to one class or stage; each person practices according to their discipline, making worship a unifying path toward Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is disciplined practice suited to one’s āśrama—regular japa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), purity and restraint for brahmacārins, and contemplative detachment for yatīs, supported by standard Shaiva marks like bhasma and Rudrāksha where appropriate.