Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 16

काम्यकर्मविभागः — Taxonomy of Kāmya (Desire-Motivated) Śaiva Rites

Devanagari script

कर्णिकायां च वैराग्यं बीजेषु नव शक्तयः । स्कन्दे शिवात्मको धर्मो नाले ज्ञानं शिवाश्रयम्

Transliteration

karṇikāyāṃ ca vairāgyaṃ bījeṣu nava śaktayaḥ | skande śivātmako dharmo nāle jñānaṃ śivāśrayam

Translation

Dans le péricarpe demeure le détachement ; dans les syllabes-semences résident les neuf śakti. Dans la tige se tient le dharma dont l’essence est Śiva, et dans le canal se trouve la connaissance qui ne repose que sur Śiva.

Word by Word

• कर्णिकायाम्: in the pericarp (central whorl)
• कर्णिकायाम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्णिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative of place)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

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

• वैराग्यम्: dispassion
• वैराग्यम्: Viśeṣya/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैराग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

• बीजेषु: in the seeds
• बीजेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• नव: nine
• नव: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; (यहाँ) स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• शक्तयः: powers
• शक्तयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; कर्तृ/उद्देश्य (subject)

• स्कन्दे: in the stalk/trunk
• स्कन्दे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्कन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• शिवात्मकः: of the nature of Śiva
• शिवात्मकः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव-आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (शिवस्य आत्मा/स्वरूपम् यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण

• धर्मः: dharma (righteous principle)
• धर्मः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृ/उद्देश्य (subject/predicate base)

• नाले: in the stalk/tube (nāḍī-like stem)
• नाले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Viśeṣya/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विधेय

• शिवाश्रयम्: having Śiva as its support/refuge
• शिवाश्रयम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव-आश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (शिवः आश्रयः यस्य/यत्र); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (ज्ञानस्य)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It maps inner yogic symbolism: detachment (vairāgya) stabilizes the seeker, divine powers support practice, dharma becomes Śiva-centered, and true knowledge culminates in taking refuge in Śiva (Pati), leading toward liberation.

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

It presents worship as internalized liṅga-bhāvanā: the components of the sacred form are contemplated as virtues and realizations, culminating in jñāna that rests in Śiva—Saguna worship maturing into Śiva-tattva realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A meditative visualization (dhyāna) that cultivates vairāgya, aligns one’s dharma with Śiva, and anchors jñāna in Śiva—often paired in Shaiva practice with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and inner worship (mānasa-pūjā).