Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 14

साधक-दीक्षा तथा मन्त्रसाधन

Puraścaraṇa and the Discipline of the Mantra-Sādhaka

Devanagari script

तनुं कृत्वात्मनः शैवीं शिवशास्त्रोक्तवर्त्मना । संपूज्य देवदेवेशं नकुलीश्वरमीश्वरम्

Transliteration

tanuṃ kṛtvātmanaḥ śaivīṃ śivaśāstroktavartmanā | saṃpūjya devadeveśaṃ nakulīśvaramīśvaram

Translation

Ayant rendu son propre corps śaiva, en suivant la voie enseignée par les śāstra de Śiva, il adora comme il se doit Devadeveśa, le Seigneur des seigneurs : Nakulīśvara, le Souverain suprême.

Word by Word

• तनुम्: the body
• तनुम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वक्रिया (having made)

• आत्मनः: of oneself
• आत्मनः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• शैवीम्: Śaiva, pertaining to Śiva
• शैवीम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शैवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तनुम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• शिव-शास्त्र-उक्त-वर्त्मना: by the path taught in Śiva’s scripture
• शिव-शास्त्र-उक्त-वर्त्मना: करण (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + उक्त (कृदन्त, √वच् धातु) + वर्त्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (‘शिवशास्त्रे उक्तं वर्त्म’); करणत्वेन

• सम्-पूज्य: having duly worshipped
• सम्-पूज्य: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वक्रिया (having worshipped fully)

• देव-देव-ईशम्: the Lord of the god of gods (supreme lord)
• देव-देव-ईशम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘देवानां देवः’ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + ‘(तस्य) ईशः’ इति बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः

• नकुलीश्वरम्: Nakulīśvara
• नकुलीश्वरम्: कर्म (Appositive object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नकुलीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषनाम (proper name)

• ईश्वरम्: the Lord
• ईश्वरम्: कर्म (Appositive object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; देवदेवेशम्/नकुलीश्वरम् इत्यस्य समानाधिकरणम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Nakulīśvara points to the Pāśupata stream associated with Lakulīśa/Nakulīśa as Śiva’s promulgator of discipline; the verse frames worship through Śiva-śāstra (āgama/śaiva-vidhi) rather than a local shrine legend.

Significance: Highlights śāstra-mārga (scripturally guided practice) and deha-śuddhi (making the body ‘Śaiva’) as prerequisites for fruitful worship and eventual liberation.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nakulishvara

FAQs

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

It teaches that true Śiva-worship begins with inner and outer consecration—making one’s embodied life “Śaiva” through scriptural discipline—then offering worship to Pati (Śiva), the supreme Lord who grants purification and liberation.

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

By emphasizing worship performed “according to Śiva’s scriptures,” the verse points to regulated Saguna worship (often centered on the Śiva-liṅga) where the devotee follows prescribed rites and attitudes to approach the transcendent Lord through a holy form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopting the Śaiva way implies preparatory observances such as bodily and mental purification, application of tripuṇḍra (bhasma), japa of Śiva-mantras (notably the pañcākṣarī), and then formal pūjā with devotion as taught in Śaiva śāstra.