Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 63

मन्त्रसिद्धिः, प्रतिबन्धनिरासः, श्रद्धा-नियमाः

Mantra Efficacy, Removal of Obstacles, and the Role of Faith/Discipline

Devanagari script

पश्चात्तापेन संयुक्तः प्रायश्चित्तं समाचरेत् । बाणलिंगे ऽपि वा कुर्यान्निर्धनो धनवानपि

Transliteration

paścāttāpena saṃyuktaḥ prāyaścittaṃ samācaret | bāṇaliṃge 'pi vā kuryānnirdhano dhanavānapi

Translation

真実の悔恨を伴って、しかるべくプラーヤシュチッタ（贖罪・浄化の行）を修すべきである。貧者であれ富者であれ、携帯のシヴァ象徴たるバーナ・リンガの前においてさえ行い得る。謙虚で正しい礼拝によって、シヴァの恩寵は近づき得るからである。

Word by Word

• पश्चात्-तापेन: with remorse afterward
• पश्चात्-तापेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय) + ताप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental/तृतीया), एकवचनम्; अव्ययीभाव-समासः ('with/through subsequent remorse')

• संयुक्तः: endowed/associated (with)
• संयुक्तः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + युज् (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्; भूतकृदन्तः (PPP) ‘संयुक्त’ = युज् + क्त, उपसर्गः सम्

• प्रायश्चित्तम्: expiation, penance
• प्रायश्चित्तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रायश्चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचनम्

• समाचरेत्: should perform
• समाचरेत्: क्रिया (Verb action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; उपसर्गौ सम्+आ

• बाण-लिङ्गे: in the Bāṇa-liṅga
• बाण-लिङ्गे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक) + लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative/सप्तमी), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः ('in/at the bāṇa-liṅga')

• अपि: even, also
• अपि: समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थ (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; निपातः (particle)

• वा: or
• वा: विकल्प (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; विकल्पार्थक-निपातः (disjunctive particle)

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: क्रिया (Verb action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्

• निर्धनः: a poor man
• निर्धनः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative), एकवचनम्; विशेष्य-रूपेण (as subject qualifier)

• धनवान्: a wealthy man
• धनवान्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative), एकवचनम्; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive)

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थ (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; निपातः (particle)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Affirms accessibility of Śiva’s grace through sincere prāyaścitta and Liṅga-worship regardless of wealth; legitimizes household/portable worship (bāṇa-liṅga) as spiritually effective.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga

FAQs

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

It teaches that true purification begins with inner remorse and is completed by sincere prāyaścitta; in Shaiva Siddhanta terms, repentance loosens pāśa (bondage) and turns the pashu toward Pati (Śiva) through disciplined correction.

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

It affirms that Saguna worship through the Liṅga is a valid and accessible means for expiation; even a portable Bāṇa-liṅga can serve as the focus of devotion, showing that Śiva’s grace does not depend on wealth or elaborate arrangements.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform prāyaścitta with repentance and Liṅga-oriented worship—such as simple pūjā and japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—even using a Bāṇa-liṅga if resources are limited.