Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 58

आवरणपूजाविधानम् / The Procedure of Āvaraṇa (Enclosure) Worship

Devanagari script

अभक्ता मानवाश्चास्मिंल्लोके गिरिगुहासु च । तपंति चाल्पभोगार्थं भक्तो भावेन मुच्यते

Transliteration

abhaktā mānavāścāsmiṃlloke giriguhāsu ca | tapaṃti cālpabhogārthaṃ bhakto bhāvena mucyate

Translation

ഈ ലോകത്തിൽ പർവതങ്ങളിലും ഗുഹകളിലും ഭക്തിയില്ലാത്തവർ ചെറിയ ഭോഗങ്ങൾക്കായി തപസ്സു ചെയ്യുന്നു; എന്നാൽ ശിവനോടുള്ള ഭാവഭക്തിയാൽ ഭക്തൻ മോചിതനാകുന്നു।

Word by Word

• अभक्ताः: non-devotees
• अभक्ताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• मानवाः: men, humans
• मानवाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• लोके: world
• लोके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गिरि-गुहासु: in mountain caves
• गिरि-गुहासु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि (प्रातिपदिक) + गुहा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative: 'mountain-caves'), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तपन्ति: they perform austerity
• तपन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अल्प-भोग-अर्थम्: for the sake of little enjoyment
• अल्प-भोग-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + भोग (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative; 'for the purpose of small enjoyment'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे द्वितीया (accusative of purpose)

• भक्तः: a devotee
• भक्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भावेन: by (true) feeling/devotion
• भावेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• मुच्यते: is liberated
• मुच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it contrasts non-bhaktas doing cave/mountain tapas for limited pleasures with the bhakta liberated by bhāva.

Significance: Reframes ‘going to mountains/caves’ as insufficient without devotion; true tīrtha is Śiva-bhāva that attracts liberating grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It contrasts desire-driven tapas with Śiva-centered bhakti, teaching that liberation comes through sincere inner devotion (bhāva) rather than austerity pursued for limited worldly rewards.

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

Linga/Saguna worship is meant to awaken bhāva—loving surrender to Śiva as Pati. When worship is performed with that inner feeling, it becomes liberating, not merely merit-producing.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate bhāva in daily Śiva-upāsanā—japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), Linga-archana with reverence, and meditation on Śiva—so practice aims at moksha, not small enjoyments.