Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 30

नैमित्तिकविधिक्रमः

Occasional Rites and Their Procedure

Devanagari script

शिवदर्मानसो कुर्वन्नकुर्वन्वापि मुच्यते । एकावृत्तो द्विरावृत्तस्त्रिरावृत्तो निवर्तकः

Transliteration

śivadarmānaso kurvannakurvanvāpi mucyate | ekāvṛtto dvirāvṛttastrirāvṛtto nivartakaḥ

Translation

Qu’on accomplisse les devoirs prescrits au dévot de Śiva, ou même qu’on ne les accomplisse pas, on est libéré lorsque l’esprit est établi en Śiva. Celui qui se tourne une fois est « à un retour » ; deux fois, « à deux retours » ; mais trois fois, il devient « non-retournant ».

Word by Word

• शिव-धर्म-मानसः: one whose mind is set on Śiva’s dharma
• शिव-धर्म-मानसः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव + धर्म + मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; ‘शिवधर्मे मनः यस्य’ (mind oriented to Śiva’s dharma); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण (कर्तुः)

• कुर्वन्: doing
• कुर्वन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अकुर्वन्: not doing
• अकुर्वन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: नञ्-पूर्वक शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘not doing’

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

• अपि: even; also
• अपि: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• मुच्यते: is liberated
• मुच्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), आत्मनेपद

• एक-आवृत्तः: once-repeated/once-circled
• एक-आवृत्तः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक + आवृत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (एकवारम् आवृत्तः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• द्विः-आवृत्तः: twice-repeated
• द्विः-आवृत्तः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्विः (अव्यय/संख्या) + आवृत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (द्विः इति अव्ययपूर्वक); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• त्रिः-आवृत्तः: thrice-repeated
• त्रिः-आवृत्तः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रिः (अव्यय/संख्या) + आवृत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (त्रिः इति अव्ययपूर्वक); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• निवर्तकः: one who causes return/cessation; a returner
• निवर्तकः: Viśeṣya/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निवर्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विधेय/नाम (predicate noun)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Emphasizes inner orientation (śivadarma-mānasa) over mere external performance; pilgrimage is perfected by mind established in Śiva, yielding ‘non-return’.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that liberation is rooted primarily in inner orientation—when the mind is established in Śiva (Pati), bondage (pāśa) loosens even if external observances are imperfect; sincere Shiva-centered consciousness is the decisive factor.

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

Linga/Saguṇa worship disciplines the mind toward Śiva; this verse emphasizes that such worship is ultimately meant to produce śiva-dharma-mānasa—steady Shiva-remembrance—through which the devotee transcends repeated return to saṃsāra.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is consistent Shiva-smaraṇa (remembrance) supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” along with simple Shaiva observances (bhasma/tripuṇḍra, rudrākṣa, and daily Linga-pūjā) to stabilize the mind in Śiva.