Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 44

शिवसंस्कार-दीक्षानिरूपणम् (Śivasaṃskāra and the Typology of Dīkṣā)

Devanagari script

गुरुं तमेव वृणुयान्नापरं मतिमान्नरः । स शिष्यैर्विनयाचारचतुरैरुचितो गुरुः

Transliteration

guruṃ tameva vṛṇuyānnāparaṃ matimānnaraḥ | sa śiṣyairvinayācāracaturairucito guruḥ

Translation

分別ある人は、そのグル（師）ただ一人を選び、他を選んではならない。そのグルは、謙虚さと戒律ある行いに熟達した弟子たちによって、正しく奉仕されるべき師である。

Word by Word

• गुरुम्: a guru
• गुरुम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• तम्: that (him)
• तम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• एव: only, indeed
• एव: अवधारण (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (Emphatic particle/अवधारण)

• वृणुयात्: should choose
• वृणुयात्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person/प्रथम), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (Negation particle/निषेध)

• अपरम्: another
• अपरम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• मतिमान्: intelligent
• मतिमान्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मतिमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

• नरः: man, person
• नरः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

• शिष्यैः: by/with disciples
• शिष्यैः: करण/सह (Instrument/Association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/तृतीया), बहुवचन (Plural)

• विनयाचारचतुरैः: skilled in discipline and conduct
• विनयाचारचतुरैः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विनय + आचार + चतुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/तृतीया), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण (adjectival) शिष्यैः इति विशेष्यस्य

• उचितः: is proper/fit
• उचितः: विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उचित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √वच्/√उच्? (धातु) से भूतकृदन्त/PPP)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle)

• गुरुः: the guru
• गुरुः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches Guru-niṣṭhā (steadfastness in one true preceptor): liberation in Shaiva Siddhanta depends on right guidance, and the disciple must approach the path with humility and disciplined conduct rather than restless switching of teachers.

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

Linga-worship and Saguna Shiva upāsanā become fruitful when learned from an authentic Guru who transmits correct ritual, mantra, and inner contemplation; the verse stresses choosing that Guru and serving with proper vinaya and ācāra.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice disciplined conduct (ācāra) and humility (vinaya) as the foundation for mantra-dīkṣā and daily Shiva worship—such as japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) under the Guru’s guidance.