Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 60

शिवसंस्कार-दीक्षानिरूपणम् (Śivasaṃskāra and the Typology of Dīkṣā)

Devanagari script

शौचाचारसमायुक्ताः शिवभक्ता द्विजातयः । एवं वृत्तसमोपेता वाङ्मनःकायकर्मभिः

Transliteration

śaucācārasamāyuktāḥ śivabhaktā dvijātayaḥ | evaṃ vṛttasamopetā vāṅmanaḥkāyakarmabhiḥ

Translation

ശൗചവും സദാചാരവും ഉള്ള ശിവഭക്ത ദ്വിജർ—വാക്ക്, മനസ്, ശരീരം എന്നീ കര്‍മങ്ങളിൽ നിയന്ത്രണം പാലിച്ച് ഇത്തരമൊരു ശീലജീവിതത്തിൽ സ്ഥാപിതരാകണം.

Word by Word

• śauca-ācāra-samāyuktāḥ: endowed with purity and good conduct
• śauca-ācāra-samāyuktāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śauca (प्रातिपदिक) + ācāra (प्रातिपदिक) + sam-āyukta (sam-√yuj धातु + क्त, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (Multi-member) Tatpuruṣa compound; kta-participle used adjectivally; Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• śiva-bhaktāḥ: devotees of Shiva
• śiva-bhaktāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakta (√bhaj धातु + क्त, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• dvijātayaḥ: twice-born (Brahmins etc.)
• dvijātayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvi-jāti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• evam: thus; in this manner
• evam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक अव्यय)

• vṛtta-samopetāḥ: possessed of such conduct
• vṛtta-samopetāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛtta (प्रातिपदिक) + sam-upeta (sam-upa-√i धातु + क्त, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; kta-participle used adjectivally; Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• vāk: by speech
• vāk: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन) (in coordination)

• manaḥ: by mind
• manaḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Singular (एकवचन) (in coordination)

• kāya: by body
• kāya: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Singular (एकवचन) (in coordination)

• karmabhiḥ: by actions
• karmabhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Plural (बहुवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva-bhakti is not merely emotional devotion but a disciplined way of life grounded in purity (śauca) and right conduct (ācāra), harmonizing speech, mind, and action—key to loosening pāśa (bondage) and moving toward Śiva’s grace.

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

Linga-worship and Saguna Śiva-upāsanā become fruitful when the devotee’s inner and outer conduct is aligned; purity and ethical discipline make the worship a fitting vessel for Śiva’s anugraha (grace) rather than a mere external ritual.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is tri-karaṇa-śuddhi—purifying and regulating speech, mind, and body—along with daily śauca and sāttvika observances; this supports mantra-japa (such as the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and steady devotional worship.