Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 77

अन्तराय-उपसर्ग-विवेचनम् / Analysis of Yogic Obstacles (Antarāyas) and Upasargas

Devanagari script

चिरेण मिश्रे सौम्ये तु न सद्यो न चिरादपि । सौम्ये मुक्तिर्विशेषेण शांतिः प्रज्ञा प्रसिध्यति

Transliteration

cireṇa miśre saumye tu na sadyo na cirādapi | saumye muktirviśeṣeṇa śāṃtiḥ prajñā prasidhyati

Translation

Dans la voie mixte et dans la voie douce (saumya), le fruit n’est pas obtenu sur-le-champ, ni même très rapidement. Pourtant, dans la voie douce en particulier, la libération (mukti) s’établit, et la paix ainsi que le discernement véritable (prajñā) s’épanouissent.

Word by Word

• चिरेण: after a long time/with delay
• चिरेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); कालवाचक (time-expression)

• मिश्रे: in the mixed (type)
• मिश्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मिश्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifier)

• सौम्ये: in the gentle/saumya (type)
• सौम्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifier)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थ (contrast/emphasis)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• सद्यः: immediately
• सद्यः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सद्यः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• चिरात्: after a long time (from long time)
• चिरात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular); कालवाचक (time-expression)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपेक्षार्थ (also/even)

• सौम्ये: in the saumya (type)
• सौम्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• मुक्तिः: liberation
• मुक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• विशेषेण: especially/in particular
• विशेषेण: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); क्रियाविशेषणार्थे (adverbial instrumental)

• शान्तिः: peace
• शान्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रज्ञा: wisdom/insight
• प्रज्ञा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रसिध्यति: is accomplished/arises
• प्रसिध्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + सिध् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद (Active), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a site-specific (sthala) passage; it teaches the ‘saumya’ (gentle) discipline where liberation, peace, and prajñā mature over time.

Significance: Frames mokṣa as ripening through sustained sādhana: gradual purification of pāśa (bondage) and dawning of prajñā as Śiva’s anugraha becomes steady.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that steady, sattvic (saumya) Shaiva discipline may not yield instant results, yet it ripens the soul toward Shiva’s grace, culminating in moksha along with inner peace and awakened discernment.

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

The “saumya” approach aligns with calm, regular Saguna Shiva/Linga worship—daily pūjā, mantra, and purity—where progress is gradual but deeply transformative, leading from devotion to clarity and liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt a gentle, consistent sādhana: japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), quiet dhyāna on Shiva, and sattvic conduct; the verse emphasizes patience and continuity rather than quick attainment.