Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 4

मन्त्रसिद्धिः, प्रतिबन्धनिरासः, श्रद्धा-नियमाः

Mantra Efficacy, Removal of Obstacles, and the Role of Faith/Discipline

Devanagari script

सिद्धमन्त्रो ऽप्यदृष्टेन प्रबलेन तु केनचित् । प्रतिबन्धफलं कर्म न कुर्यात्सहसा बुधः

Transliteration

siddhamantro 'pyadṛṣṭena prabalena tu kenacit | pratibandhaphalaṃ karma na kuryātsahasā budhaḥ

Translation

Même si le mantra est accompli et efficace, le sage ne doit pas se précipiter dans des actes dont le fruit est l’entrave, car une force invisible mais puissante peut être à l’œuvre.

Word by Word

• siddha-mantraḥ: even a perfected mantra
• siddha-mantraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siddha (कृदन्त; सिध् धातु, ‘accomplished’) + mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय—‘a mantra that is siddha’

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) expressing concession ‘even/also’

• adṛṣṭena: by unseen fate
• adṛṣṭena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adṛṣṭa (कृदन्त; दृश् धातु, ‘unseen’; also ‘fate’)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• prabalena: powerful
• prabalena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument/Cause)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prabala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter/Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with adṛṣṭena

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) contrast/emphasis

• kenacit: by some (cause/person)
• kenacit: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); indefinite pronoun ‘by someone/something’

• pratibandha-phalam: resulting in obstruction
• pratibandha-phalam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of karma)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pratibandha (प्रातिपदिक) + phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); विशेषण—‘having obstruction as its result’

• karma: ritual act
• karma: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध अव्यय)

• kuryāt: should do
• kuryāt: Kriyā (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/Optative), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• sahasā: rashly
• sahasā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sahasā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) ‘rashly/suddenly’

• budhaḥ: a wise person
• budhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: budha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a sthala-purāṇa passage; it teaches ritual prudence: even a siddha-mantra can be checked by unseen karmic impediments (adṛṣṭa/pratibandha).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches discernment (viveka) in sādhana: even authentic mantra-practice can meet pratibandha due to adṛṣṭa (unseen karmic residues), so the seeker should proceed steadily, purifying karma through disciplined worship rather than impulsive acts.

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

In Saguna Shiva worship—such as Linga-pūjā—results may appear delayed when unseen karmas obstruct. The verse emphasizes patience and regularity in Shiva-upāsanā, trusting that Shiva’s grace removes pasha (bondage) as purification ripens.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of Shiva-mantra (especially the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with steadiness, supported by daily Linga-pūjā, bhasma/tripuṇḍra, and ethical restraint—avoiding sudden, fear-driven ritual actions when obstacles arise.