Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 59

आवरणपूजाविधानम् / The Procedure of Āvaraṇa (Enclosure) Worship

Devanagari script

सात्त्विकं मुक्तिदं कर्म सत्त्वे वै योगिनः स्थिताः । राजसं सिद्धिदं कुर्युः कर्मिणो रजसावृताः

Transliteration

sāttvikaṃ muktidaṃ karma sattve vai yoginaḥ sthitāḥ | rājasaṃ siddhidaṃ kuryuḥ karmiṇo rajasāvṛtāḥ

Translation

Établis dans la sattva, les yogins accomplissent l’acte sāttvika, qui confère la délivrance. Mais ceux qui ne sont que des faiseurs, voilés par le rajas, entreprennent l’acte rājasa, qui ne donne que des siddhis et des réussites mondaines.

Word by Word

• सात्त्विकम्: sattvic
• सात्त्विकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सात्त्विक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण (neut. acc. sg.)

• मुक्ति-दम्: granting liberation
• मुक्ति-दम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + द (प्रातिपदिक; ‘द’ = giving)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—“मुक्तिं ददाति इति” (giving liberation)

• कर्म: action/ritual act
• कर्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सत्त्वे: in sattva (purity)
• सत्त्वे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• योगिनः: yogis
• योगिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• स्थिताः: are established
• स्थिताः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; भूतभावे/भूतकर्मणि (past participle: “are situated/abide”)

• राजसम्: rajasic
• राजसम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सिद्धि-दम्: granting success (siddhi)
• सिद्धि-दम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—“सिद्धिं ददाति” (giving success/powers)

• कुर्युः: would do/should perform
• कुर्युः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person/प्रथम), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• कर्मिणः: ritualists/doers
• कर्मिणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• रजसा: by rajas (passion)
• रजसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• आवृताः: covered/enveloped
• आवृताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + वृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मणि (covered/enveloped)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

FAQs

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

It distinguishes two trajectories of action: sāttvika karma, done in clarity and inner purity, matures into liberation; rājasa karma, driven by passion and egoic striving, yields only limited results like success and siddhis, not final freedom.

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

Linga worship performed with sattva—humility, steadiness, and devotion—purifies the bonds (pāśa) and supports Shiva-realization; the same outer acts done with rājasa motives (status, power, display) tend toward siddhi and worldly reward rather than moksha.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prioritize sāttvika sādhanā: steady japa of the Panchākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), meditative absorption with a calm mind, and simple, pure Shiva-pūjā; avoid rājasa intent such as seeking powers or recognition from worship.