Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 58

ध्यानप्रकारनिर्णयः / Determination of the Modes of Meditation

on Śrīkaṇṭha-Śiva

Devanagari script

नैवाशौचं प्रपद्येत तत्पुत्रादिविशेषतः । शिवचारार्थमथवा शिवविद्यार्थमेव वा

Transliteration

naivāśaucaṃ prapadyeta tatputrādiviśeṣataḥ | śivacārārthamathavā śivavidyārthameva vā

Translation

Il ne doit pas tomber dans l’état d’impureté rituelle (āśauca), surtout à cause du fils et des proches semblables, lorsque le but est l’observance des disciplines de Śiva, ou encore, véritablement, l’apprentissage de la connaissance de Śiva.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• एव: indeed / at all
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle ‘indeed/just’)

• अशौचम्: impurity (mourning impurity)
• अशौचम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.)

• प्रपद्येत: should resort to / should incur
• प्रपद्येत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√पद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (sg.); ‘that’ (as determiner in compound)

• पुत्रादि: son and the like (relatives)
• पुत्रादि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र-आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रातिपदिकरूपेण; ‘पुत्रः च आदि च’ इति समाहार-द्वन्द्वभावः (sons and the like)

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय; विशेष)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/विशेषवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (especially)

• शिवचारार्थम्: for the purpose of Śiva-conduct/observance
• शिवचारार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव-चार-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक; शिव + चार + अर्थ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); ‘शिवचारस्य अर्थः’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः; प्रयोजनार्थे (for the purpose)

• अथवा: or else
• अथवा: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or else)

• शिवविद्यार्थम्: for the purpose of Śiva-knowledge
• शिवविद्यार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव-विद्या-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक; शिव + विद्या + अर्थ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); ‘शिवविद्यायाः अर्थः’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः; प्रयोजनार्थे

• एव: indeed / only
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (only/indeed)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that dedication to Śiva—through disciplined Śaiva conduct and true knowledge—transcends ordinary limitations, and that devotion and learning oriented to Pati (Śiva) should not be obstructed by secondary ritual considerations.

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

Linga-worship is a central expression of Śiva-cāra (Śaiva discipline). The verse implies that sincere engagement in Śiva’s worship and instruction should continue, since such practice is directed to Saguna Śiva as a means toward realizing the highest truth of Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It supports continuity in Śaiva observances—such as daily pūjā, japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and study/listening to Śiva-vidyā—without interruption when the aim is Śiva-dharma and inner purification.