Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 21

शिवसंस्कार-दीक्षानिरूपणम् (Śivasaṃskāra and the Typology of Dīkṣā)

Devanagari script

यथा शिवस्तथा विद्या यथा विद्या तथा गुरुः । शिवविद्या गुरूणां च पूजया सदृशं फलम्

Transliteration

yathā śivastathā vidyā yathā vidyā tathā guruḥ | śivavidyā gurūṇāṃ ca pūjayā sadṛśaṃ phalam

Translation

Tel est Śiva, telle est la connaissance sacrée ; telle est cette connaissance, tel est le Guru. Le fruit obtenu en honorant la connaissance de Śiva et en vénérant les Gurus est égal dans son résultat.

Word by Word

• यथा: as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारार्थक-अव्यय (as/just as)

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तथा: so/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/correlative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: तुल्यतार्थक-अव्यय (so/likewise)

• विद्या: knowledge
• विद्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• यथा: as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारार्थक-अव्यय

• विद्या: knowledge
• विद्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तथा: so/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: तुल्यतार्थक-अव्यय

• गुरुः: guru
• गुरुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• शिव-विद्या: Śiva-knowledge (Śiva-vidyā)
• शिव-विद्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-सम्बन्धः: 'शिवस्य विद्या' = Śiva's knowledge/Śiva-vidyā); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• गुरूणाम्: of gurus
• गुरूणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

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

• पूजया: by worship
• पूजया: Karana (करण/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• सदृशम्: similar/equivalent
• सदृशम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (agreeing with फलम्)

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Guru
• Shiva-vidya (Śaiva knowledge)

FAQs

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

It teaches the Shaiva principle that Śiva (Pati), true liberating knowledge (vidyā), and the Guru who transmits it are inseparable in purpose; honoring the Guru and Śiva-knowledge leads to the same spiritual fruit—purification and movement toward liberation.

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

Linga worship is Saguna devotion that steadies the mind, while Śiva-vidyā clarifies the inner meaning of that worship. The verse states that reverence for the Guru and the teaching that reveals Śiva’s reality is as fruitful as external worship, because it perfects devotion with right understanding.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice Guru-pūjā (service, reverence, and obedience), study and recitation of Śaiva teachings, and daily japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) under guidance—treating the teaching and the teacher as sacred.