Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 79

मन्त्रसिद्धिः, प्रतिबन्धनिरासः, श्रद्धा-नियमाः

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

Devanagari script

सिंहायते मृगः क्षुद्रः सिंहः क्रीडामृगायते । स्त्रियो ऽभिसारिकायन्ते लक्ष्मीः सुचरितायते

Transliteration

siṃhāyate mṛgaḥ kṣudraḥ siṃhaḥ krīḍāmṛgāyate | striyo 'bhisārikāyante lakṣmīḥ sucaritāyate

Translation

Dans le bouleversement de l’âge, même un petit cerf joue au lion, et le lion se trouve ravalé au rang d’animal de divertissement. Les femmes deviennent comme des errantes clandestines du désir, et Lakṣmī—la prospérité—ne demeure qu’auprès de la bonne conduite et du noble caractère.

Word by Word

• siṃha-āyate: becomes like a lion
• siṃha-āyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: siṃha (प्रातिपदिक) + √i (धातु) → āyate
• Form: Laṭ, Prathama-puruṣa Ekavacana, Ātmanepada; denominative sense 'acts/becomes like a lion'

• mṛgaḥ: deer/animal
• mṛgaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana

• kṣudraḥ: small, petty
• kṣudraḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana

• siṃhaḥ: lion
• siṃhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siṃha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana

• krīḍā-mṛga-āyate: becomes like a plaything-animal
• krīḍā-mṛga-āyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: krīḍā (प्रातिपदिक) + mṛga (प्रातिपदिक) + √i (धातु) → āyate
• Form: Laṭ, Prathama-puruṣa Ekavacana, Ātmanepada; base compound krīḍāmṛga (क्रीडामृग, Tatpuruṣa: 'play-animal') used for denominative sense

• striyaḥ: women
• striyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana

• abhisārikāyante: act as tryst-goers
• abhisārikāyante: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhisārikā (प्रातिपदिक) + √i (धातु) → āyante
• Form: Laṭ, Prathama-puruṣa Bahuvacana, Ātmanepada; denominative sense 'become/act as abhisārikā (tryst-goer)'

• lakṣmīḥ: Lakṣmī/fortune
• lakṣmīḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana

• su-carita-āyate: becomes (mere) good conduct/virtue
• su-carita-āyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + carita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + √i (धातु) → āyate
• Form: Laṭ, Prathama-puruṣa Ekavacana, Ātmanepada; base adjective sucarita (सुचरित, Karmadhāraya: 'good-conduct') used for denominative sense

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Lalitā

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Kali-yuga dharma-saṅkara (social and ethical inversion)

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmi

FAQs

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

It warns that in times of dharmic decline, appearances invert—false strength rises and true nobility is diminished—so the seeker should anchor life in sucarita (virtuous conduct), which alone sustains inner and outer prosperity and supports Shaiva pursuit of liberation.

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is not merely ritual display; it is meant to purify character—truthfulness, restraint, and humility—so that devotion to Saguna Shiva matures into steadiness and fitness for realizing Shiva as the supreme Pati beyond shifting worldly status.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice self-restraint and daily Shiva-sadhana: japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a vow of ethical living, and if following Shaiva custom, wear rudrākṣa and apply tripuṇḍra-bhasma as reminders to conquer pride and desire.