Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 71

शिवसंस्कार-दीक्षानिरूपणम् (Śivasaṃskāra and the Typology of Dīkṣā)

Devanagari script

शिवधर्मे नियुक्तायाश्शिवशासनगौरवात् । बहुनात्र किमुक्तेन यो ऽपि को ऽपि शिवाश्रयः

Transliteration

śivadharme niyuktāyāśśivaśāsanagauravāt | bahunātra kimuktena yo 'pi ko 'pi śivāśrayaḥ

Translation

ശിവശാസനത്തിന്റെ മഹിമകൊണ്ട് അവൾ ശിവധർമ്മപഥത്തിൽ നിയുക്തയായി. ഇവിടെ അധികം എന്തു പറയണം? ആരായാലും ശിവാശ്രയം സ്വീകരിച്ചാൽ, അവൻ അവന്റെ മാർഗത്തിൽ ദൃഢമായി സ്ഥാപിതനാകും.

Word by Word

• śiva-dharme: in Śiva’s dharma
• śiva-dharme: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva + dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• niyuktāyāḥ: of (her) who is appointed/engaged
• niyuktāyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ni-√yuj (युज् धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: kta-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle) used adjectivally; स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• śiva-śāsana-gauravāt: due to the weight/authority of Śiva’s command
• śiva-śāsana-gauravāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान/Cause-source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva + śāsana + gaurava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular); हेत्वर्थ (cause)

• bahunā: with much (talk)
• bahunā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); idiomatically ‘with much (speech)’

• atra: here, in this matter
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Context)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), देशवाचक (adverb of place/context)

• kim: what? (what is the use)
• kim: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Idiomatic interrogative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); interrogative used idiomatically

• uktena: by saying (it), by words
• uktena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ukta (√vac वच् धातु + kta)
• Form: kta-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त used substantively; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); relative pronoun

• api: even, also
• api: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), निपात (particle: even/also)

• kaḥ: who (whoever)
• kaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); interrogative used as indefinite ‘whoever’ with api

• api: even
• api: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), निपात (particle)

• śiva-āśrayaḥ: one who has refuge in Śiva; Śiva-devotee
• śiva-āśrayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva + āśraya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Purana teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadashiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Emphasizes śaraṇāgati (refuge) in Śiva as universally efficacious; encourages initiation into Śiva-dharma and trust in Śiva’s śāsana (ordinance).

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It proclaims the decisive power of Śiva-śāsana (Śiva’s spiritual ordinance): once a soul turns to Śiva as refuge, that very surrender places one in Śiva-dharma, the path leading beyond bondage (pāśa) toward liberation under Pati, Śiva.

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

Taking refuge in Śiva is commonly expressed through Saguna upāsanā—reverence to the Śiva-liṅga, pūjā, and following Śiva’s injunctions—through which the devotee becomes aligned with Śiva-dharma and is gradually led toward the higher realization of Śiva’s transcendence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is śaraṇāgati (refuge) enacted as daily Śiva-dharma: worship of the liṅga, japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), and disciplined observance of Śiva’s teachings (optionally supported by bhasma/tripuṇḍra and rudrākṣa as Shaiva marks).