Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 68

समयाह्वय-संस्कारः — Rite of ‘Samayāhvaya’ and the Preparatory Layout

Maṇḍapa, Vedi, Kuṇḍas, Maṇḍala, Śiva-kumbha

Devanagari script

वरं प्राणपरित्यागश्छेदनं शिरसो ऽपि वा । न त्वनभ्यर्च्य भुंजीय भगवन्तं त्रिलोचनम्

Transliteration

varaṃ prāṇaparityāgaśchedanaṃ śiraso 'pi vā | na tvanabhyarcya bhuṃjīya bhagavantaṃ trilocanam

Translation

പ്രാണത്യാഗമോ—അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ശിരഛേദമോ—അതേ ശ്രേയസ്കരം; എന്നാൽ ത്രിനേത്രനായ ഭഗവാൻ ശിവനെ ആരാധിക്കാതെ ഞാൻ അന്നം ഭുജിക്കുകയില്ല।

Word by Word

• वरम्: better/rather
• वरम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Preference marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग (indeclinable usage meaning “rather/better”); मूलतः नपुंसक द्वितीया एकवचन

• प्राण-परित्यागः: giving up of life
• प्राण-परित्यागः: Karta (कर्ता; as an alternative stated)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक) + परित्याग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• छेदनम्: cutting off
• छेदनम्: Karta (कर्ता; alternative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छेदन (प्रातिपदिक; from छिद् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• शिरसः: of the head
• शिरसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-कार (particle “even/also”)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Disjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (disjunctive “or”)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक (adversative/emphatic “but/indeed”)

• अनभ्यर्च्य: without worshipping
• अनभ्यर्च्य: Kriya (क्रिया; prior action negated)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अन् + अभि-अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (gerund/absolutive) with negation; ‘अनभ्यर्च्य’ = without worshipping (having not worshipped)

• भुञ्जीय: may I eat/enjoy
• भुञ्जीय: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), आत्मनेपद; उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• भगवन्तम्: the Lord
• भगवन्तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• त्रिलोचनम्: three-eyed
• त्रिलोचनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु/तत्पुरुष-स्वरूप (numeral determinative); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘भगवन्तम्’ विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vayu Samhita discourse to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes niyama: never eat without prior Śiva-arcana; such discipline is taught as a means to loosen pāśa (bondage) and invite anugraha.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that a devotee must place Śiva (Pati) above bodily needs; even ordinary enjoyment like eating becomes sanctified only when preceded by worship, expressing total surrender and devotion.

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

It affirms Saguna worship—approaching the Three-Eyed Lord through concrete acts like pūjā and arcanā (often to the Śiva-liṅga)—so that daily life is offered to Śiva before one partakes of its fruits.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform a brief Śiva-arcanā before meals—mentally or physically—such as offering water to the liṅga, applying bhasma (tripuṇḍra), chanting “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and then eating as prasāda.