Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 31

षडध्व-शुद्धिः

Purification of the Six Adhvans / Sixfold Cosmic Path

Devanagari script

शिष्यं शिरसि संताड्य सूत्रं देहे यथाक्रमम् । शांत्यतीतपदे सूत्रं लाञ्छयेन्मंत्रमुच्चरन्

Transliteration

śiṣyaṃ śirasi saṃtāḍya sūtraṃ dehe yathākramam | śāṃtyatītapade sūtraṃ lāñchayenmaṃtramuccaran

Translation

ആചാര്യൻ ശിഷ്യന്റെ ശിരസ്സിനെ സ്പർശിച്ച്, ക്രമാനുസൃതമായി അവന്റെ ദേഹത്തിൽ യജ്ഞോപവീതം ധരിപ്പിക്കണം. മന്ത്രോച്ചാരണം ചെയ്യുമ്പോൾ ‘ശാന്ത്യതീത’ എന്ന സ്ഥാനത്ത് സൂത്രം അടയാളപ്പെടുത്തി ഉറപ്പിക്കണം—ഇത് ശിവകൃപയാൽ ബന്ധനാതീത ഗമനത്തിന്റെ ചിഹ്നമാണ്.

Word by Word

• शिष्यम्: disciple
• शिष्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन

• शिरसि: on the head
• शिरसि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/Locative); एकवचन

• संताड्य: having struck (tapped)
• संताड्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्-√ताड् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); ‘having struck/tapped’

• सूत्रम्: thread, cord
• सूत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन

• देहे: on the body
• देहे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/Locative); एकवचन

• यथाक्रमम्: in proper sequence
• यथाक्रमम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा + क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण): ‘in due order’

• शांत्यतीतपदे: at the Śāntyatīta stage
• शांत्यतीतपदे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शान्ति + अतीत + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/Locative); एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सम्बन्ध): ‘शान्त्यतीतस्य पदे’ (at the stage called Śāntyatīta)

• सूत्रम्: thread
• सूत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन

• लाञ्छयेत्: should mark, should imprint
• लाञ्छयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √लाञ्छ्/लक्ष् (धातु; ‘to mark’)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd); एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मन्त्रम्: mantra
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन

• उच्चरन्: uttering, reciting
• उच्चरन्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उद्-√चर् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; क्रियासहचर (concomitant action)

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 presents a Shaiva initiation act where the guru’s touch and mantra empower the disciple; the thread becomes a sign of entering disciplined practice aimed at transcending pasha (bondage) and abiding in Śiva-oriented liberation.

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

Mantra-recitation and ritual marking are outer supports for Saguna Śiva-upāsanā; through such regulated rites the disciple becomes fit for Linga worship and for internalizing Śiva as Pati, the Lord who frees the bound soul.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A formal diksha-style procedure: the guru ritually touches the head, invests the sacred thread in proper order, and seals it while chanting a Shaiva mantra—emphasizing mantra-japa as the core inner practice.