Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 3

शिशुकस्य शिवशास्त्रप्राप्तिः (Śiśuka’s Attainment of Śaiva Teaching and Grace)

Devanagari script

कथं च लब्धविज्ञानस्तपश्चरणपर्वणि । रुद्राग्नेर्यत्परं वीर्यं लभे भस्म स्वरक्षकम्

Transliteration

kathaṃ ca labdhavijñānastapaścaraṇaparvaṇi | rudrāgneryatparaṃ vīryaṃ labhe bhasma svarakṣakam

Translation

« Et comment, ayant obtenu la vraie connaissance spirituelle, dois-je avancer sur la voie et les degrés de l’austérité ? Comment puis-je obtenir la puissance suprême née du feu de Rudra — la cendre sacrée (bhasma) qui me protège moi-même ? »

Word by Word

• कथम्: how?
• कथम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Interrogative modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction: and)

• लब्ध-विज्ञानः: one who has gained knowledge
• लब्ध-विज्ञानः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लब्ध (लभ्-धातु, क्त कृदन्त) + विज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘यस्य विज्ञानं लब्धम्’ (one who has obtained knowledge)

• तपः-चरण-पर्वणि: at the stage of practicing austerity
• तपः-चरण-पर्वणि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक) + चरण (प्रातिपदिक) + पर्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘तपश्चरणस्य पर्वणि’ (at the stage/occasion of practicing austerity)

• रुद्र-अग्नेः: of Rudra’s fire
• रुद्र-अग्नेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; ‘रुद्रस्य अग्निः’ (Rudra’s fire)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of vīryam)

• वीर्यम्: power/energy
• वीर्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• लभे: I obtain / may I obtain
• लभे: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• भस्म: ashes
• भस्म: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (used as appositional object)

• स्व-रक्षकम्: self-protecting / protector of oneself
• स्व-रक्षकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + रक्षक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘स्वस्य रक्षकः’ (protecting oneself) used adjectivally for bhasma

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a seeker’s question within the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā discourse to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Focuses on Rudra-agni and the acquisition of bhasma as ‘sva-rakṣaka’ (self-protection). In Siddhānta, bhasma signifies burning of mala (impurity) and protection against pāśa (bondage) through Śaiva observance.

Significance: Encourages adoption of bhasma-dhāraṇa and disciplined tapas as protective sādhana; frames ash as a sacramental reminder of impermanence and Rudra’s purifying fire.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames bhasma as the “supreme potency” arising from Rudra’s purifying fire and links it to realized knowledge (vijñāna) and disciplined tapas—signifying inner purification, ego-burning, and the soul’s protection under Pati (Shiva).

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

Bhasma is a key Shaiva mark (Tripuṇḍra) used while worshipping Saguna Shiva—especially the Linga—reminding the devotee that all forms return to ash and that Rudra alone is the enduring refuge and protector.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to obtaining and reverently applying sacred bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) as a protective Shaiva observance, supported by tapas, purity, and Shiva-oriented contemplation (often accompanied by japa such as Om Namaḥ Śivāya).