Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 58

शिवसंस्कार-दीक्षानिरूपणम् (Śivasaṃskāra and the Typology of Dīkṣā)

Devanagari script

ते योग्याः संयताः शुद्धाः शिवसंस्कारकर्मणि । अहिंसका दयावंतो नित्यमुद्युक्तचेतसः

Transliteration

te yogyāḥ saṃyatāḥ śuddhāḥ śivasaṃskārakarmaṇi | ahiṃsakā dayāvaṃto nityamudyuktacetasaḥ

Translation

Eux seuls sont dignes—maîtres d’eux-mêmes et purs—des rites de consécration et des disciplines de Śiva ; non-violents, pleins de compassion, l’esprit toujours engagé dans l’effort dévotionnel.

Word by Word

• te: they/those
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• yogyāḥ: fit/qualified
• yogyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yogya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• saṃyatāḥ: self-restrained
• saṃyatāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃ-yam (संयम् धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• śuddhāḥ: pure
• śuddhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• śiva-saṃskāra-karmaṇi: in the rite of Śiva-consecration
• śiva-saṃskāra-karmaṇi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃskāra (प्रातिपदिक) + karman (कर्मन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘śivasya saṃskāraḥ’ + ‘tat karma’

• ahiṃsakāḥ: non-violent
• ahiṃsakāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-hiṃsaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• dayā-vantaḥ: compassionate
• dayā-vantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dayā (प्रातिपदिक) + -vant (वन्/वन्त् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); possessive adjective (मतुप्/वन्त्-अर्थ)

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नित्यं)

• udyukta-cetasaḥ: with ever-ardent minds
• udyukta-cetasaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udyukta (उद्-युक्त; युज् धातु) + cetas (चेतस् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); कर्मधारय: ‘udyuktaṃ cetas’ (उद्युक्तं चेतः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines the inner qualifications for Śiva’s grace-bearing disciplines: restraint, purity, non-violence, and compassion—traits that loosen pāśa (bondage) and make the devotee receptive to Pati (Śiva).

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

Liṅga-worship is not merely external ritual; it requires sāttvika conduct. The verse teaches that only a purified, compassionate, self-governed devotee truly performs Śiva-saṃskāra in a way that honors Saguna Śiva and leads toward realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to disciplined observance (vrata/niyama) alongside Śiva-upāsanā—maintaining ahiṃsā, cultivating dayā, and keeping the mind steadily engaged in japa and worship (such as Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with purity.