Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 18

केवलामुष्मिकविधिः — The Rite for Exclusive Otherworldly Attainment

Liṅga-Abhiṣeka and Padma-Pūjā Protocol

Devanagari script

देयं च शिवभक्तेभ्यः शिवेन कथितं पुरा

Transliteration

deyaṃ ca śivabhaktebhyaḥ śivena kathitaṃ purā

Translation

Cela aussi doit être accordé aux dévots de Śiva, car jadis Śiva Lui-même l’a proclamé.

Word by Word

• देयम्: should be given
• देयम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (gerundive/यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय (to be given)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• शिवभक्तेभ्यः: to Shiva’s devotees
• शिवभक्तेभ्यः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), बहुवचन; सम्प्रदान (dative)

• शिवेन: by Shiva
• शिवेन: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; कर्तृ/करण-निर्देश (by Shiva)

• कथितम्: was said
• कथितम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past Passive Participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘said/told’

• पुरा: formerly/earlier
• पुरा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General injunction on transmission: the teaching is to be given to Śiva-bhaktas because it originates from Śiva’s own declaration (śiva-vacana).

Significance: Affirms paramparā legitimacy: practices grounded in Śiva’s word are to be shared within the devotional community, strengthening communal sādhana.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that offerings and acts of giving become spiritually fruitful when directed toward Śiva’s devotees, because serving the bhakta is treated as service to Śiva, aligning the soul (paśu) toward divine grace (anugraha).

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

In Saguna worship, devotion is expressed not only by pūjā to the Liṅga but also by honoring those devoted to Śiva; the verse supports the Purāṇic ethic that worship becomes complete when compassion and reverence to Śiva-bhaktas accompany ritual.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests dāna and seva—giving offerings (food, cloth, support for worship) to Śiva devotees—ideally alongside remembrance of Śiva (japa of the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to keep the act rooted in devotion.