Shloka 28

Varṇa-adhikāra, Karma, and the Protection of One’s Attained Spiritual Status (वर्णाधिकारः कर्म च स्वस्थानरक्षणम्)

Devanagari script

वीरासनं वीरशय्या वीरस्थानस्थितिस्स्थिरा । सर्वदा भवति व्यास इह लोके परत्र च

Transliteration

vīrāsanaṃ vīraśayyā vīrasthānasthitissthirā | sarvadā bhavati vyāsa iha loke paratra ca

Translation

Ô Vyāsa, la constance dans la posture héroïque (vīrāsana), le repos héroïque (vīraśayyā) et la demeure ferme au poste héroïque (vīrasthāna) apportent toujours une stabilité de bon augure, ici-bas comme dans l’au-delà.

Word by Word

• vīra-āsanam: heroic posture/seat
• vīra-āsanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक) + āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (vīrāṇām āsanam / vīrasya āsanam)

• vīra-śayyā: heroic bed/resting-place
• vīra-śayyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक) + śayyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (vīrasya śayyā)

• vīra-sthāna-sthitiḥ: steadfast standing in the hero’s place
• vīra-sthāna-sthitiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक) + sthāna (प्रातिपदिक) + sthiti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (vīrasya sthāne sthitiḥ)

• sthirā: firm; steady
• sthirā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (sthitiḥ इति)

• sarvadā: always
• sarvadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• bhavati: is / becomes
• bhavati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• vyāsa: O Vyāsa
• vyāsa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• iha: here
• iha: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• loke: in the world
• loke: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• paratra: in the hereafter
• paratra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paratra (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb: in the other world/thereafter)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Vyasa

FAQs

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

It teaches that steadiness—expressed as disciplined posture, rest, and firm abidance—supports inner stability, which in Shaiva Siddhanta becomes a foundation for right worship (caryā/kriyā) and maturing toward liberation (moksha).

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

Linga-worship requires sustained attention and purity of conduct; this verse emphasizes the stable bodily and mental frame that helps a devotee remain unwavering in Saguna Shiva-upāsanā, leading to grace in both worldly life and the hereafter.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt a steady seated posture (such as vīrāsana) for japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and Linga-dhyāna, maintaining firmness and regularity in daily worship.