Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 9

शिवसंस्कार-दीक्षानिरूपणम् (Śivasaṃskāra and the Typology of Dīkṣā)

Devanagari script

यया स्यान्निर्वृतिः सद्यस्सैव तीव्रतरा मता । तीव्रा तु जीवतोत्यंतं पुंसः पापविशोधिका

Transliteration

yayā syānnirvṛtiḥ sadyassaiva tīvratarā matā | tīvrā tu jīvatotyaṃtaṃ puṃsaḥ pāpaviśodhikā

Translation

La discipline ou la dévotion par laquelle la paix et la délivrance sont obtenues sur-le-champ est tenue pour «la plus intense». Une telle intensité, tant que l’homme est encore vivant, devient un purificateur total de ses péchés.

Word by Word

• यया: by which
• यया: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध/करणवाचक (by which)

• स्यात्: would be; may occur
• स्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• निर्वृतिः: cessation; bliss; liberation
• निर्वृतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्वृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सद्यः: immediately
• सद्यः: Kāla (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सद्यः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• सा: that (dīkṣā)
• सा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एव: indeed; alone
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• तीव्रतरा: more intense
• तीव्रतरा: Viśeṣya-nāma (विशेष्य-नाम/Predicate nominal)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीव्रतर (प्रातिपदिक; तरप्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तुलनात्मक

• मता: is considered
• मता: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु) → मत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘is considered’

• तीव्रा: intense
• तीव्रा: Viśeṣya-nāma (विशेष्य-नाम)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीव्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (another type)

• तु: but; however
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/पक्षान्तरे (adversative particle)

• जीवतः: of a living person
• जीवतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवत् (प्रातिपदिक; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle used nominally)

• अत्यन्तम्: exceedingly; completely
• अत्यन्तम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्यन्तम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाणवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (degree adverb)

• पुंसः: of a man/person
• पुंसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुम्स्/पुंस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• पापविशोधिका: purifier of sins
• पापविशोधिका: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप-विशोधिका (प्रातिपदिक; पाप + विशोधिका)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/उपपद-तत्पुरुष sense: ‘पापं विशोधयति’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of dīkṣā)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that the highest sādhana is the one that brings immediate inner repose (nirvṛti) through intense, single-pointed devotion and discipline, and that such intensity purifies sins even in this very life.

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

Linga-worship and Saguna Shiva-upāsanā become ‘tīvrā’ when performed with unwavering focus and surrender; then the practice yields swift inner settling and strong purification, which prepares the seeker for Shiva-realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt a ‘tīvrā’ daily practice—steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), Linga-abhiṣeka with devotion, and inner contemplation—aimed at immediate quieting of the mind and purification of pāpa.