Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 67

मङ्गलाचरणम्, तीर्थ-परिसरः, सूतागमनम् — Invocation, Sacred Setting, and the Arrival of Sūta

Devanagari script

परीक्षिताय शिष्याय धार्मिकायानसूयवे । प्रदेयं शिवभक्ताय शिवधर्मानुसारिणे

Transliteration

parīkṣitāya śiṣyāya dhārmikāyānasūyave | pradeyaṃ śivabhaktāya śivadharmānusāriṇe

Translation

Cet enseignement/ce texte ne doit être transmis qu’à un disciple éprouvé—juste, sans malveillance—dévot de Śiva et vivant selon le dharma de Śiva.

Word by Word

• parīkṣitāya: to the tested (one)
• parīkṣitāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/चतुर्थी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parīkṣita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; परि+ईक्ष् धातु)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Caturthī (चतुर्थी), Ekavacana; adjective used substantively: 'to the examined/tested (disciple)'

• śiṣyāya: to a disciple
• śiṣyāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/चतुर्थी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Caturthī, Ekavacana

• dhārmikāya: to a righteous one
• dhārmikāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/चतुर्थी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhārmika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Caturthī, Ekavacana; qualifying śiṣya

• anasūyave: to one free from malice
• anasūyave: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/चतुर्थी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anasūya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Caturthī, Ekavacana; anasūya = 'free from envy/carping'

• pradeyam: to be given; should be bestowed
• pradeyam: Karya (कार्य/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-dā (प्र+दा धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta, gerundive (तव्यत्/यत् sense), Napuṃsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate: 'should be given' (idam śāstram implied)

• śiva-bhaktāya: to a devotee of Śiva
• śiva-bhaktāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/चतुर्थी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; भज् धातु)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Caturthī, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: śivasya bhaktaḥ

• śiva-dharma-anusāriṇe: to one who follows Śiva’s dharma
• śiva-dharma-anusāriṇe: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/चतुर्थी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + anusārin (प्रातिपदिक; अनु+सृ धातु)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Caturthī, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: śiva-dharmam anusaratīti (one who follows Śiva's dharma)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines adhikāra (spiritual eligibility): Shaiva teachings are to be entrusted to a disciplined, righteous, non-envious seeker whose life aligns with Śiva-dharma—so the knowledge becomes a means to purification and liberation, not mere argument or pride.

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

Linga/Saguṇa-Śiva worship requires inner fitness—humility, devotion, and ethical conduct. The verse implies that external rites gain fruit when received and practiced by a qualified Śiva-bhakta who follows Śiva’s dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The key practice is disciplined Shaiva living: receive mantra and worship instructions from a guru only after examination, then follow Śiva-dharma—regular japa (e.g., Pañcākṣarī), pūjā, and conduct free from envy and malice.