Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 43

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

Devanagari script

अथ किं बहुनोक्तेन श्रेयः प्राप्त्यैकसाधनम् । मयि चित्तसमासंगो येन केनापि हेतुना

Transliteration

atha kiṃ bahunoktena śreyaḥ prāptyaikasādhanam | mayi cittasamāsaṃgo yena kenāpi hetunā

Translation

À quoi bon tant de paroles ? L’unique moyen d’atteindre le Souverain Bien est ceci : que l’esprit s’attache fermement à Moi, quelle qu’en soit la cause.

Word by Word

• अथ: now/then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रसङ्गसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (particle: now/then)

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम

• बहुना: with much (talk)
• बहुना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; साधन/उपायार्थे

• उक्तेन: by what is said / by speech
• उक्तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

• श्रेयः: the highest good
• श्रेयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• प्राप्ति: of attainment
• प्राप्ति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राप् (धातु) + क्तिन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; क्तिन्-प्रत्ययान्त भाववाचक (action noun)

• एक-साधनम्: the single means
• एक-साधनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + साधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (एकं साधनम् = single means)

• मयि: in me
• मयि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम

• चित्त-समासङ्गः: attachment of the mind
• चित्त-समासङ्गः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्त (प्रातिपदिक) + समासङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (चित्तस्य समासङ्गः)

• येन: by which
• येन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम

• केन: by any (one)
• केन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; प्रश्न/अनिश्चितार्थे

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/समुच्चय/अपि=even/also

• हेतुना: by a cause/reason
• हेतुना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; कारणार्थे

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a site legend; it is a soteriological ‘eka-sādhana’ statement: citta-samāsaṅga (one-pointed attachment) to Śiva as the direct means to śreyas (mokṣa).

Significance: Reorients all external practice toward inner fixation on Śiva; pilgrimage, vows, and rites become supports for citta-samāsaṅga.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares that the direct, sufficient path to śreyas (the highest good—liberation) is unwavering inner attachment of the mind to Śiva, emphasizing interior transformation over excessive discourse.

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

In Śaiva practice, the Liṅga and other saguna forms serve as supports for the mind; this verse points to their purpose—bringing citta into steady connection with Śiva until devotion matures into continuous remembrance and absorption.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt a simple daily discipline of Shiva-smaraṇa with japa (e.g., the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) so the mind naturally clings to Śiva; external aids like bhasma and rudrākṣa may be used as supports for steadiness.