Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 12

शिवसंस्कार-दीक्षानिरूपणम् (Śivasaṃskāra and the Typology of Dīkṣā)

Devanagari script

शक्तिपातानुसारेण शिष्यो ऽनुग्रहमर्हति । शैवधर्मानुसारस्य तन्मूलत्वात्समासतः

Transliteration

śaktipātānusāreṇa śiṣyo 'nugrahamarhati | śaivadharmānusārasya tanmūlatvātsamāsataḥ

Translation

ശക്തിപാതത്തിന്റെ അനുസാരമായി ശിഷ്യൻ അനുഗ്രഹത്തിന് അർഹനാകുന്നു. സംക്ഷേപത്തിൽ, ശൈവധർമ്മം അനുസരിക്കുന്നവന് ഇതുതന്നെ മൂലവും അടിസ്ഥാനവും ആകുന്നു.

Word by Word

• शक्तिपातानुसारेण: according to the descent of power (śaktipāta)
• शक्तिपातानुसारेण: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument; according to)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्तिपात + अनुसार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘शक्तिपातस्य अनुसारः’

• शिष्यः: the disciple
• शिष्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अनुग्रहम्: grace/favor
• अनुग्रहम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अर्हति: deserves/is entitled to
• अर्हति: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शैवधर्मानुसारस्य: of conformity to the Śaiva dharma
• शैवधर्मानुसारस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैव + धर्म + अनुसार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘शैवधर्मस्य अनुसारः’

• तत्: of that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (in compound with मूलत्वात्); ‘of that’

• मूलत्वात्: because it is the root/basis
• मूलत्वात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान; cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूलत्व (प्रातिपदिक; भाव-प्रत्यय -त्व)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; कारणार्थ अपादान (because of being the root)

• समासतः: in summary
• समासतः: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समासतः (अव्यय; समास + तस्)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: ‘in brief/summarily’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti

FAQs

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

It teaches that liberation-oriented spiritual progress in Śaiva Dharma is rooted in Śiva’s grace manifesting as śaktipāta; only through that descent of power does a seeker become truly fit for transformative instruction and realization.

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

Śaktipāta makes external worship fruitful: linga-pūjā, mantra-japa, and devotion to Saguna Śiva become inwardly awakened practices when supported by divine anugraha, rather than remaining mere ritual form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to seek guru-guided Śaiva sādhanā—steady japa of Śiva-mantra (especially the Pañcākṣarī), disciplined worship, and humility—while understanding that the decisive catalyst is Śiva’s anugraha (śaktipāta).