Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 54

मन्त्रसिद्धिः, प्रतिबन्धनिरासः, श्रद्धा-नियमाः

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

Devanagari script

द्रव्यैर्विशेषतो होमे वश्यमाकर्षणं तथा । वश्यमाकर्षणं चैव श्रीपदं च विशेषतः

Transliteration

dravyairviśeṣato home vaśyamākarṣaṇaṃ tathā | vaśyamākarṣaṇaṃ caiva śrīpadaṃ ca viśeṣataḥ

Translation

Dans les offrandes au feu (homa), lorsqu’elles sont accomplies avec des substances spécialement prescrites, on dit que naissent les rites de vaśya (influence, assujettissement) et d’ākarṣaṇa (attraction, appel). Oui, ces actes d’influence et d’attraction sont tout particulièrement liés à l’obtention du śrīpada, prospérité et éminence de bon augure.

Word by Word

• द्रव्यैः: with materials/substances
• द्रव्यैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; Neuter, Instr plural

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण; adverb (especially/in particular)

• होमे: in the homa (fire-offering)
• होमे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; Masculine, Loc singular

• वश्यम्: subjugation
• वश्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; Neuter Nom/Acc singular (object/result)

• आकर्षणम्: attraction/drawing
• आकर्षणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ-√कृष् (धातु) + अन (प्रत्यय) → आकर्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; action-noun (kṛdanta)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; adverb (thus/also)

• वश्यम्: subjugation
• वश्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• आकर्षणम्: attraction
• आकर्षणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ-√कृष् (धातु) + अन (प्रत्यय) → आकर्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात; and

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण निपात; emphatic (indeed)

• श्रीपदम्: the auspicious/Śrī-formula (śrī-pada)
• श्रीपदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; Tatpuruṣa: श्रियाः पदम् / श्रीसम्बद्धं पदम्

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात; and

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण; adverb (especially)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Lalitā

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It notes that specific homa-substances can yield worldly effects like influence and attraction, while implying—within Shaiva teaching—that such powers are outcomes of ritual efficacy and should remain subordinate to Shiva-bhakti and liberation-oriented practice.

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

Homa and offerings are external supports for Saguna Shiva worship; when aligned with Shiva-mantra and right intent, they can produce prosperity (śrī) and other results, but their highest value is as a disciplined form of devotion to Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to homa done with specially prescribed dravyas (offerings) for intended outcomes; a Shaiva takeaway is to pair such ritual with Shiva-mantra japa (e.g., Panchakshara) and keep the goal anchored in purification and devotion rather than mere siddhi-seeking.