Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 4

भक्ताधिकारि-द्विजधर्म-योगिलक्षणवर्णनम् / Duties of Qualified Devotees and Marks of Yogins

Devanagari script

व्याख्यानं ब्रह्मचर्यं च श्रवणं च तपः क्षमा । शौचं शिखोपवीतं च उष्णीषं चोत्तरीयकम्

Transliteration

vyākhyānaṃ brahmacaryaṃ ca śravaṇaṃ ca tapaḥ kṣamā | śaucaṃ śikhopavītaṃ ca uṣṇīṣaṃ cottarīyakam

Translation

聖なる教えを説き、梵行（ブラフマチャリヤ）を守り、経典を敬虔に聴聞し、苦行（タパス）と忍耐を修めること。さらに清浄、頂髻（シカー）と聖紐（ウパヴィータ）、頭巾、上衣の布—これらがシャイヴァの行者に定められた標（しるし）と作法である。

Word by Word

• व्याख्यानम्: exposition, teaching
• व्याख्यानम्: Karma (कर्म) / item enumerated
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याख्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; abstract noun

• ब्रह्मचर्यम्: celibacy, religious discipline
• ब्रह्मचर्यम्: Karma (कर्म) / item enumerated
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणि चर्या)

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

• श्रवणम्: listening, hearing
• श्रवणम्: Karma (कर्म) / item enumerated
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

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

• तपः: austerity, penance
• तपः: Karma (कर्म) / item enumerated
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; visarga-ending stem

• क्षमा: forbearance, forgiveness
• क्षमा: Karma (कर्म) / item enumerated
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• शौचम्: purity, cleanliness
• शौचम्: Karma (कर्म) / item enumerated
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• शिखोपवीतम्: topknot and sacred thread
• शिखोपवीतम्: Karma (कर्म) / item enumerated
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखा (प्रातिपदिक) + उपवीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; द्वन्द्वः (शिखा च उपवीतं च)

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

• उष्णीषम्: turban, head-cloth
• उष्णीषम्: Karma (कर्म) / item enumerated
• Type: Noun
• Root: उष्णीष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

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

• उत्तरीयकम्: upper garment, shawl
• उत्तरीयकम्: Karma (कर्म) / item enumerated
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तरीयक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Tatpuruṣa

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a jyotirliṅga passage; it codifies marks (liṅga) of disciplined life—brahmacarya, śauca, and traditional insignia—used to maintain boundaries of conduct and identity for practice.

Significance: Highlights that sustained sādhana requires both inner discipline (tapas, kṣamā, śravaṇa) and outer supports (śikhā, upavīta, garments) that reinforce vows and social-religious commitments.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It lists the inner virtues and outer disciplines that steady the aspirant—purity, restraint, listening to sacred teaching, austerity, and forgiveness—so the soul (paśu) becomes fit to receive Shiva’s grace (pati) and loosen bondage (pāśa).

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

Linga-worship is upheld by right conduct: śravaṇa (hearing Śiva-tattva), tapas, and śauca purify intention, while traditional signs like śikhā, upavīta, and uttarīya support a disciplined life oriented to Saguna Shiva’s ritual worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular śravaṇa (listening to Shaiva scripture/teachings), living brahmacarya and tapas with kṣamā, and maintaining śauca as daily preparation for Shiva-pūjā and japa (including the Panchakshara, if initiated).