Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 19

शिवसंस्कार-दीक्षानिरूपणम् (Śivasaṃskāra and the Typology of Dīkṣā)

Devanagari script

शिष्यस्तु शिक्षणीयत्वाद्गुरोर्गौरवकारणात् । तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन गुरोर्गौरवमाचरेत्

Transliteration

śiṣyastu śikṣaṇīyatvādgurorgauravakāraṇāt | tasmātsarvaprayatnena gurorgauravamācaret

Translation

Puisque le disciple est celui qui doit être formé, et puisque le Guru est la cause même de la vénération, qu’ainsi, de tout effort, on pratique et maintienne la révérence envers son propre guru.

Word by Word

• śiṣyaḥ: the disciple
• śiṣyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avadhāraṇa/viśeṣa-avyaya (particle/अव्यय) = 'but/indeed'

• śikṣaṇīyatvāt: because of being teachable/fit to be instructed
• śikṣaṇīyatvāt: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śikṣaṇīyatva (प्रातिपदिक; from śikṣaṇīya)
• Form: Napुṃsakaliṅga, Pañcamī vibhakti (Ablative/पञ्चमी), Ekavacana; hetu sense (cause)

• guroḥ: of the guru
• guroḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Genitive/षष्ठी), Ekavacana

• gaurava-kāraṇāt: from the cause of (showing) respect
• gaurava-kāraṇāt: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaurava (प्रातिपदिक) + kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsakaliṅga, Pañcamī vibhakti (Ablative/पञ्चमी), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'cause of respect'

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative-form used adverbially (tasmāt/तस्मात्) = 'therefore/from that'

• sarva-prayatnena: with all effort
• sarva-prayatnena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + prayatna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental), Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: 'all/complete effort'

• guroḥ: of the guru
• guroḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• gauravam: respect/reverence
• gauravam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaurava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative), Ekavacana

• ācaret: should practice/should show
• ācaret: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-car (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (Optative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana, Parasmaipada; ā- upasarga

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Positions guru-bhakti as a primary means for receiving Śiva’s grace: reverence stabilizes discipline, reduces egoic obstruction (āṇava), and supports progress toward liberation.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes Guru-reverence (guru-gaurava) as a core discipline for the disciple, implying that humility and obedience to right instruction are essential for progressing toward Shiva-realization and liberation.

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

In Shaiva practice, correct Linga worship, mantra-japa, and inner contemplation are learned through the Guru; honoring the Guru safeguards the purity of Saguna Shiva-upasana and leads the seeker toward the higher truth of Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain daily guru-vandana (salutation and remembrance of the Guru) and follow the Guru’s instructions for mantra-dīkṣā and japa—especially the Panchakshara—before undertaking Linga worship, bhasma (tripuṇḍra), or rudrākṣa observances.