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Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 46

शैवधर्मप्रशंसा तथा पञ्चविधसाधनविभागः / Praise of Śaiva Dharma and the Fivefold Classification of Practice

यथास्वं क्रमशश्छित्वा शोधयित्वा यथागुणम् । गुणितैरेव सोद्धातैरनिरुद्धैरथापि वा

yathāsvaṃ kramaśaśchitvā śodhayitvā yathāguṇam | guṇitaireva soddhātairaniruddhairathāpi vā

Les ayant tranchés peu à peu selon leur juste mesure et purifiés selon leur qualité propre, qu’on en tire ensuite l’essence au moyen des multiplicateurs convenables et des diviseurs exacts, qu’ils soient fixes (réglementés) ou même non fixes (selon le besoin).

yathāsvamaccording to one’s own (capacity/portion)
yathāsvam:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootyathā (अव्यय) + sva (प्रातिपदिक)
FormAdverbial avyayībhāva: 'according to one's own (measure/portion)' (यथार्थे)
kramaśaḥstep by step
kramaśaḥ:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootkramaśaḥ (अव्यय)
FormAdverb (क्रियाविशेषण) meaning 'in order/step by step'
chitvāhaving cut
chitvā:
Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootchid (छिद् धातु)
FormAbsolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय), 'having cut'
śodhayitvāhaving purified
śodhayitvā:
Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootśudh/śudh (शुध् धातु) causative śodhaya-
FormCausative gerund (णिच् + क्त्वा), 'having purified/cleansed'
yathāguṇamaccording to (the required) quality/degree
yathāguṇam:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootyathā (अव्यय) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormAdverbial avyayībhāva: 'according to the qualities/degree'
guṇitaiḥby the qualified/multiplied (ones)
guṇitaiḥ:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeAdjective
Rootguṇita (कृदन्त; √guṇ/गुण्? denom. from guṇa)
FormMasculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); past participle sense 'multiplied/qualified'
evaindeed; only
eva:
Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rooteva (अव्यय)
FormEmphatic particle (अवधारण)
soddhātaiḥby the lifters/extractors
soddhātaiḥ:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootsa- (उपसर्ग) + uddhātar (उद्धातृ प्रातिपदिक/agent noun from √dhā/धा with ud-)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); 'with/by the extractors/raisers'
aniruddhaiḥby the unobstructed/unrestrained (ones)
aniruddhaiḥ:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeAdjective
Rootaniruddha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)
athathen; or else
atha:
Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootatha (अव्यय)
FormConjunctive particle (समुच्चय/अनन्तर)
apialso; even
api:
Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootapi (अव्यय)
FormParticle (सम्भावना/समुच्चय)
or
:
Vikalpa (विकल्प)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootvā (अव्यय)
FormDisjunctive particle (विकल्प)

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā discourse to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Tattva Level: pashu

S
Shiva

FAQs

It emphasizes disciplined, sequential refinement: spiritual progress is not random, but proceeds through correct division of distractions, purification of qualities (guṇas), and precise inner “reckoning” that leads the bound soul (paśu) toward Shiva (Pati).

It supports Saguna worship as a regulated method: through orderly practice—mantra, pūjā, and purification—one refines the mind and guṇas, making the devotee fit to realize Shiva beyond form while still approaching Him through the Linga as a sacred support.

A step-by-step sādhana: purifying conduct and mind, then applying steady measures such as japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) with purity, and focused meditation—adjusted as needed but always grounded in śodhana (inner cleansing).