Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 37

शिवाश्रम-नित्यनैमित्तिककर्मविधिः / Śaiva Āśrama-Duties: Daily and Occasional Rites

Morning Purity & Bath Procedure

Devanagari script

तदलाभे यथालाभं धारणीयमदूषितम् । तत्रापि नोत्तरं नीचैर्धार्यं नीचमथोत्तरैः

Transliteration

tadalābhe yathālābhaṃ dhāraṇīyamadūṣitam | tatrāpi nottaraṃ nīcairdhāryaṃ nīcamathottaraiḥ

Translation

ಅದು (ಉತ್ತಮ ಆಚರಣೆ/ವಸ್ತು) ದೊರಕದಿದ್ದರೆ, ದೊರಕಿದುದರಲ್ಲಿ ಶುದ್ಧವೂ ದೋಷರಹಿತವೂ ಆದದ್ದನ್ನೇ ಧರಿಸಬೇಕು. ಆದರೂ ಕಡಿಮೆ ಅರ್ಹರು ಉನ್ನತ ನಿಯಮವನ್ನು ಕೈಗೊಳ್ಳಬಾರದು; ಉನ್ನತ ಅರ್ಹರು ಹೀನವಾದುದನ್ನು ಸ್ವೀಕರಿಸಬಾರದು.

Word by Word

• तत्: in that (case)
• तत्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; demonstrative pronoun used with अलाभे (तद्-अलाभे = ‘in that non-attainment’)

• अलाभे: in non-attainment / when not obtained
• अलाभे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अलाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• यथा: as, according to
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; adverbial correlating particle (यथा = ‘as/according to’)

• लाभम्: gain/obtaining
• लाभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; used adverbially with यथा (‘according to what is obtained’)

• धारणीयम्: to be worn/held
• धारणीयम्: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृ (धातु) + अनीय (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Gerundive/Future passive participle (अनीय), Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicative: ‘is to be worn/held’

• अदूषितम्: undefiled, untainted
• अदूषितम्: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दूष् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्) with negation अ-
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agrees with धारणीयम्

• तत्र: there / in that matter
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb of place/context

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle; concessive/emphatic

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable negation particle

• उत्तरम्: the higher (thing)
• उत्तरम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; comparative sense ‘higher/superior’; subject of (implicit) धार्यम्

• नीचैः: by low persons
• नीचैः: Karta (कर्ता) / Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; agent/instrumental: ‘by the low/mean persons’

• धार्यम्: to be worn/borne
• धार्यम्: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृ (धातु) + यत् (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Gerundive (यत्), Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate: ‘is to be worn/borne’

• नीचम्: the low (thing)
• नीचम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नीच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; subject of (implicit) धार्यम् in second clause

• अथ: and then / but
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; connective particle

• उत्तरैः: by superior persons
• उत्तरैः: Karta (कर्ता) / Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; agent: ‘by the higher/superior persons’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shaiva practice must preserve śuddhi (purity) while being realistic: when ideal means are unavailable, use a pure substitute, but never violate spiritual propriety by adopting disciplines beyond one’s adhikāra (qualification) or by lowering standards when capable of higher.

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

Linga worship emphasizes purity of substance and intention; this verse supports using pure, available offerings and observances for Saguna Shiva, while respecting graded disciplines (e.g., types of vrata, mantra-japa counts, or ritual strictness) according to eligibility.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain an undisturbed, pure daily discipline—such as Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), clean Tripuṇḍra/bhasma application, and sattvic conduct—choosing a pure substitute when needed, and keeping vows aligned with one’s capacity and initiation.