Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 69

शिवसंस्कार-दीक्षानिरूपणम् (Śivasaṃskāra and the Typology of Dīkṣā)

Devanagari script

कृतकृत्या ऽभवत्पूर्वं तपसाराध्य शङ्करम् । यथा नारायणं देवं तपसाराध्य पांडवान्

Transliteration

kṛtakṛtyā 'bhavatpūrvaṃ tapasārādhya śaṅkaram | yathā nārāyaṇaṃ devaṃ tapasārādhya pāṃḍavān

Translation

पूर्वकाल में उसने तपस्या द्वारा शंकर की आराधना करके कृतकृत्यता प्राप्त की—जैसे देव नारायण ने तप से प्रसन्न होकर पाण्डवों पर अनुग्रह किया था।

Word by Word

• kṛta-kṛtyā: one who has accomplished her task
• kṛta-kṛtyā: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानााधिकरण/Predicate to subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta + kṛtya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• abhavat: became
• abhavat: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• pūrvam: formerly, earlier
• pūrvam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत्)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• tapasā: by austerity
• tapasā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ārādhya: having propitiated
• ārādhya: Kriyā-samānādhikaraṇa (क्रियासम्बन्ध/Conjunctive action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā-√rādh (राध् धातु) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यबन्त अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (prior action)

• śaṅkaram: Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• śaṅkaram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• yathā: just as
• yathā: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक/Comparator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), उपमा-प्रदर्शक (comparative particle)

• nārāyaṇam: Nārāyaṇa
• nārāyaṇam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• devam: the god
• devam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); apposition to nārāyaṇam

• tapasā: by austerity
• tapasā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ārādhya: having propitiated
• ārādhya: Kriyā-samānādhikaraṇa (क्रियासम्बन्ध/Conjunctive action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā-√rādh (राध् धातु) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यबन्त अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (prior action)

• pāṇḍavān: the Pāṇḍavas
• pāṇḍavān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāṇḍava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes tapas (austerity) as a valid means of Śiva-prasāda (grace) and siddhi; encourages devotees that Śaṅkara responds to disciplined worship just as other deities do.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shankara
• Narayana
• Pandavas

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that true “success” (kṛtakṛtyatā) arises when one propitiates Pati—Śiva—through disciplined tapas joined with devotion; fulfillment is not merely worldly gain but the ripening of the soul toward Shiva’s grace.

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

It points to Saguna worship—approaching Śaṅkara as the gracious Lord who responds to sincere austerity and devotion. In practice, such tapas is commonly anchored in Linga-upāsanā with japa (e.g., the Panchākṣarī) and steady observances.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Tapas-oriented worship: daily japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” simple vrata/fasting (especially on Mondays or Mahāśivarātri), and meditative concentration on Śiva—supported by traditional aids like bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa where appropriate.