Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 24

शिवसंस्कार-दीक्षानिरूपणम् (Śivasaṃskāra and the Typology of Dīkṣā)

Devanagari script

गच्छंस्तिष्ठन्स्वपन्भुंजन्नान्यत्कर्म समाचरेत् । समक्षं यदि कुर्वीत सर्वं चानुज्ञया गुरोः

Transliteration

gacchaṃstiṣṭhansvapanbhuṃjannānyatkarma samācaret | samakṣaṃ yadi kurvīta sarvaṃ cānujñayā guroḥ

Translation

歩くときも、立つときも、眠るときも、食するときも、みだりに他の行いをしてはならない。たとえグルの目前でなすべきことがあっても、すべてはただグルの許しによって行うべきである。

Word by Word

• गच्छन्: going
• गच्छन्: Kriya (क्रिया/participial action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (while going)

• तिष्ठन्: standing
• तिष्ठन्: Kriya (क्रिया/participial action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (while standing)

• स्वपन्: sleeping
• स्वपन्: Kriya (क्रिया/participial action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्वप् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (while sleeping)

• भुञ्जन्: eating/enjoying
• भुञ्जन्: Kriya (क्रिया/participial action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (while eating/enjoying)

• अन्यत्: other
• अन्यत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (कर्म)

• कर्म: act/deed
• कर्म: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• समाचरेत्: should perform
• समाचरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• समक्षम्: in (his) presence
• समक्षम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समक्ष (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-नपुंसक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: in presence/directly)

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक-अव्यय

• कुर्वीत: should do
• कुर्वीत: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्म (object: everything)

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

• अनुज्ञया: by permission
• अनुज्ञया: Karana (करण/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; करण (with permission)

• गुरोः: of the guru
• गुरोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vayu Samhita teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches śiṣya-dharma: the seeker restrains ego-driven independence and lives by the Guru’s command, which aligns the bound soul (paśu) toward Shiva’s grace (anugraha) and liberation.

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is traditionally learned and performed under proper guidance; this verse emphasizes that even devotional acts should follow the Guru’s authorization so worship remains pure, scriptural, and grace-bearing.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to adopt disciplined daily conduct (niyama) and perform japa of the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and related observances (like Tripuṇḍra and Rudrākṣa) only as instructed by one’s Guru.