Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 43

स्कन्दसरः (Skandasara) — तीर्थवर्णनम् / Description of the Skandasara Sacred Lake

Devanagari script

पठितव्यं प्रयत्नेन श्रोतव्यं च तथैव हि । नास्तिकाय न वक्तव्यमश्रद्धाय शठाय च

Transliteration

paṭhitavyaṃ prayatnena śrotavyaṃ ca tathaiva hi | nāstikāya na vaktavyamaśraddhāya śaṭhāya ca

Translation

Il faut le lire et l’étudier avec un effort sincère, et de même l’écouter avec attention. Mais il ne doit pas être enseigné à l’athée, ni à celui qui manque de foi, ni à l’homme trompeur.

Word by Word

• पठितव्यम्: should be read
• पठितव्यम्: विधेय (Obligation predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पठ् (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/future passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — विधेय (ought to be read)

• प्रयत्नेन: with effort
• प्रयत्नेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument—means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• श्रोतव्यम्: should be listened to
• श्रोतव्यम्: विधेय (Obligation predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — ‘ought to be heard’

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) — ‘in that manner/likewise’

• एव: indeed
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (emphatic particle)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात — हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (for/indeed)

• नास्तिकाय: to an atheist
• नास्तिकाय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नास्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध (negation particle)

• वक्तव्यम्: should not be told
• वक्तव्यम्: विधेय (Prohibition predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — ‘ought to be spoken/told’ (with negation)

• अश्रद्धाय: to one without faith
• अश्रद्धाय: सम्प्रदान (Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (Dat.), एकवचन

• शठाय: to a deceitful person
• शठाय: सम्प्रदान (Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (Dat.), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes adhikāra (fitness) for receiving Śaiva Purāṇic teaching; emphasizes śraddhā and integrity as prerequisites for transformative hearing (śravaṇa).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches adhikāra (spiritual eligibility): Shaiva scripture must be approached through disciplined study and attentive listening, and transmitted only to those with śraddhā and sincerity, because faith and integrity are required for the teaching to transform the soul (paśu) toward Shiva (Pati).

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

Linga-worship and Saguna Shiva devotion depend on reverent receptivity; without faith, the outer act becomes mere ritual. The verse safeguards the sanctity of Shiva-upāsanā by insisting that instruction be given to devotees who will honor the Linga and apply the teaching in conduct and worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It emphasizes śravaṇa (listening) and svādhyāya (study) as daily disciplines—hearing Shiva-kathā with attention and regularly reciting/reflecting on it—supported by sincere bhakti (often expressed through japa of the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”).