Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 7

मङ्गलाचरणम्, तीर्थ-परिसरः, सूतागमनम् — Invocation, Sacred Setting, and the Arrival of Sūta

Devanagari script

शिष्यो महात्मा मेधावी त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतः । पञ्चावयवयुक्तस्य वाक्यस्य गुणदोषवित्

Transliteration

śiṣyo mahātmā medhāvī triṣu lokeṣu viśrutaḥ | pañcāvayavayuktasya vākyasya guṇadoṣavit

Translation

അവൻ ശിഷ്യൻ—മഹാത്മാവും മേധാവിയും—ത്രിലോകങ്ങളിലും പ്രസിദ്ധൻ; പഞ്ചാവയവയുക്തമായ വാക്യത്തിന്റെ ഗുണദോഷങ്ങൾ തിരിച്ചറിയുന്നവൻ।

Word by Word

• śiṣyaḥ: disciple
• śiṣyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• mahātmā: great-souled one
• mahātmā: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• medhāvī: intelligent
• medhāvī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: medhāvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• triṣu: in three
• triṣu: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural; numeral used adjectivally with lokeṣu

• lokeṣu: in the worlds
• lokeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural

• viśrutaḥ: renowned
• viśrutaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-śru (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘well-known’

• pañca-avayava-yuktasya: of the five-membered
• pañca-avayava-yuktasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca + avayava + yukta (युज् धातु-निष्पन्न कृदन्त, क्त) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; ‘of that which is endowed with five members/parts’ qualifying vākyasya

• vākyasya: of the statement/proposition
• vākyasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• guṇa-doṣa-vit: knower of merits and faults
• guṇa-doṣa-vit: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guṇa + doṣa + vit (विद् धातु-निष्पन्न कृदन्त, क्विप्/वित्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; dvandva (guṇa+doṣa) + vit ‘knower’: ‘knower of merits and faults’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

It praises the ideal disciple: noble, discerning, and capable of evaluating teachings correctly—an essential qualification for receiving Shaiva wisdom that leads toward liberation (moksha).

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

Sound discernment protects a devotee from misunderstanding ritual and doctrine, helping one approach Saguna Shiva worship (such as Linga-puja) with right knowledge, devotion, and correct intention.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is viveka (discernment) applied to scripture and guru-instruction—supporting steady japa of Om Namaḥ Śivāya and focused contemplation without confusion or doubt.