Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 37

ध्यानप्रकारनिर्णयः / Determination of the Modes of Meditation

on Śrīkaṇṭha-Śiva

Devanagari script

योगिनामन्नदानेन तत्समस्तं फलं लभेत् । ये चापवादं कुर्वंति विमूढाश्शिवयोगिनाम्

Transliteration

yogināmannadānena tatsamastaṃ phalaṃ labhet | ye cāpavādaṃ kurvaṃti vimūḍhāśśivayoginām

Translation

En offrant de la nourriture aux yogin de Śiva, on obtient la totalité du fruit de ce mérite sacré. Mais ceux qui, dans leur égarement, dénigrent les yogin de Śiva encourent le démérite et déchoient de la juste compréhension.

Word by Word

• योगिनाम्: of yogins
• योगिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अन्नदानॆन: by food-giving (alms of food)
• अन्नदानॆन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्नदान (प्रातिपदिक; अन्न + दान)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; विशेषण (demonstrative)

• समस्तम्: entire, complete
• समस्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; विशेषण

• फलम्: fruit, result
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• लभेत्: would obtain
• लभेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपवादम्: slander, reproach
• अपवादम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपवाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• कुर्वन्ति: do, commit
• कुर्वन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

• विमूढाः: the deluded (people)
• विमूढाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition to ये)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमूढ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; विशेष्यवत् (used substantively)

• शिवयोगिनाम्: of Śiva-yogins
• शिवयोगिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवयोगिन् (प्रातिपदिक; शिव + योगिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shiva Yogins

FAQs

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

It teaches that service to Śiva’s realized devotees—especially feeding them (annadāna)—yields complete spiritual merit, while criticizing them is a serious offense that obstructs grace and right knowledge.

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

In Śaiva devotion, honoring Śiva’s devotees is treated as honoring Śiva Himself; thus, service like annadāna complements external Linga worship by cultivating humility, devotion, and reverence for those established in Śiva-yoga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is annadāna—feeding Śaiva ascetics/devotees with respect—along with avoiding aparādha (slander). This can be paired with daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) as an attitude of seva and devotion.