Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 51

Devanagari script

भक्त्या प्रचोदितः कुर्यादल्पवित्तोपि मानवः । महाविभवसारोपि न कुर्याद्भक्तिवर्जितः

Transliteration

bhaktyā pracoditaḥ kuryādalpavittopi mānavaḥ | mahāvibhavasāropi na kuryādbhaktivarjitaḥ

Translation

バクティ（信愛）に促されるなら、財の乏しい者であってもシヴァへの礼拝と聖なる務めを行うべきである。だが大いなる繁栄を得た者でも、信愛を欠くなら行ってはならない。

Word by Word

• भक्त्या: by devotion
• भक्त्या: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन

• प्रचोदितः: impelled, prompted
• प्रचोदितः: कर्तृविशेषण (Agent-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-चुद् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगार्थे ‘प्रेरितः’

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अल्पवित्तः: of little wealth
• अल्पवित्तः: कर्तृविशेषण (Agent-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + वित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अपि: even, also
• अपि: सम्बन्धसूचक (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थे ‘even/also’

• मानवः: a man, human
• मानवः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महाविभवसारः: having the essence of great prosperity (very affluent)
• महाविभवसारः: कर्तृविशेषण (Agent-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + विभव (प्रातिपदिक) + सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (महाविभवस्य सारः) / समाहार-तत्पुरुष; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अपि: even, also
• अपि: सम्बन्धसूचक (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), ‘even/also’

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

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• भक्तिवर्जितः: devoid of devotion
• भक्तिवर्जितः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्जित (वृज्/वर्ज् धातु + क्त, कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (भक्त्या वर्जितः/भक्तिं वर्जितः); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Warns that ritual action without bhakti can become a form of tirodhāna (self-concealment through ego/ritualism); encourages the poor to worship confidently and discourages hollow ostentation.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that the inner power of worship is bhakti; without devotion, external offerings and wealth lose spiritual efficacy, while sincere devotion sanctifies even simple worship and draws Shiva’s grace.

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

Linga-worship is fulfilled by heartfelt reverence rather than costly materials; Saguna Shiva accepts simple offerings—water, bilva, mantra—when offered with devotion, making bhakti the core of upachara.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform uncomplicated Shiva-puja with steady bhakti—japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namah Shivaya) and offering water/bilva—prioritizing sincerity over elaborate expense.