Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 42

शिवज्ञान-प्रश्नः तथा सृष्टौ शिवस्य स्वयमाविर्भावः

Inquiry into Śiva-knowledge and Śiva’s self-manifestation in creation

Devanagari script

प्रवर्तितं च तल्लोके नियोगात्परमेष्ठिनः । मयागस्त्येन गुरुणा दधीचेन महर्षिणा

Transliteration

pravartitaṃ ca talloke niyogātparameṣṭhinaḥ | mayāgastyena guruṇā dadhīcena maharṣiṇā

Translation

Et cette observance/enseignement sacré fut instauré dans ce monde-là sur l’ordre de Parameṣṭhin (Brahmā) : par moi, par le vénérable maître Agastya et par le grand ṛṣi Dadhīci.

Word by Word

• प्रवर्तितम्: was initiated/was set in motion
• प्रवर्तितम्: Karma (कर्म/Object—thing initiated)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वृत् (धातु) → प्रवर्तित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; अर्थे—‘प्रवर्तितम्’ = set in motion/initiated

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तत्: in that
• तत्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7/अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘लोके’ इति पदस्य विशेषणम्

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• नियोगात्: from/through the command
• नियोगात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source-cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5/अपादान), एकवचन; हेतौ—आदेशात्/नियुक्त्या (by command)

• परमेष्ठिनः: of Parameṣṭhin
• परमेष्ठिनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमेष्ठिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; ‘नियोगात्’ इत्यस्य सम्बन्धः

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण/Instrument-Agentive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3/करण), एकवचन

• अगस्त्येन: by Agastya
• अगस्त्येन: Karana (करण/Instrument/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अगस्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/करण), एकवचन

• गुरुणा: by the teacher
• गुरुणा: Karana (करण/Instrument/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/करण), एकवचन; ‘अगस्त्येन’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• दधीचेन: by Dadhīca
• दधीचेन: Karana (करण/Instrument/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधीचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/करण), एकवचन

• महर्षिणा: by the great sage
• महर्षिणा: Karana (करण/Instrument/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महर्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/करण), एकवचन; ‘दधीचेन’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Agastya
• Dadhichi

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that Shaiva dharma and its disciplines are not self-invented but transmitted through divine command and an authentic guru-lineage, preserving purity of practice and leading the soul (paśu) toward Shiva (Pati) through right instruction.

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

By highlighting Brahmā’s injunction and the sages’ role in establishing the teaching, the verse frames Linga/Saguna-Shiva worship as a sanctioned, tradition-based path—received through authorized teachers rather than personal preference.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is adherence to guru-upadeśa and śāstric injunction—typically expressed in Shaiva life through disciplined japa (such as the Panchākṣara), purity observances, and faithful performance of prescribed Shiva worship.