Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 10

Devanagari script

अथवा तत्फलावाप्त्यै ब्रह्मचर्यरतो भवेत् । रात्रौ हविष्यमश्नीयात्पायसं वा फलानि वा

Transliteration

athavā tatphalāvāptyai brahmacaryarato bhavet | rātrau haviṣyamaśnīyātpāyasaṃ vā phalāni vā

Translation

അല്ലെങ്കിൽ അതേ ഫലം പ്രാപിക്കാനായി ബ്രഹ്മചര്യനിഷ്ഠനാകണം. രാത്രിയിൽ ഹവിഷ്യം (ശുദ്ധ യജ്ഞാഹാരം) മാത്രം, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ പായസം, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ഫലങ്ങൾ മാത്രം കഴിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• अथवा: or else
• अथवा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/option)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive: or/alternatively)

• तत्: of that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; genitive qualifier with फलावाप्त्यै

• फलावाप्त्यै: for attainment of the result
• फलावाप्त्यै: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल + अवाप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—“फलस्य अवाप्तिः” (attainment of the fruit); dative—“for attaining”

• ब्रह्मचर्यरतः: devoted to celibacy
• ब्रह्मचर्यरतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मचर्य + रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—“ब्रह्मचर्ये रतः” (devoted to celibacy)

• भवेत्: should be/become
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• रात्रौ: at night
• रात्रौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative—“at night” (Vedic/irregular locative form)

• हविष्यम्: haviṣya-food
• हविष्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हविष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; object—“haviṣya food (ritual simple food)”

• अश्नीयात्: should eat
• अश्नीयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पायसम्: rice-milk pudding
• पायसम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पायस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; object (alternative)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/option)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: or)

• फलानि: fruits
• फलानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; object (alternative)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/option)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: or)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: General vrata-niyama: brahmacarya and sattvic night-diet support mantra-japa and Śiva-upāsanā across all Śiva temples.

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 the same spiritual merit is gained through inner restraint: brahmacarya and a pure, regulated diet. In Shaiva practice, such discipline purifies the pashu (bound soul) and makes it fit for Shiva’s grace.

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

Linga-worship is supported by bodily and mental purity; continence and sattvic food reduce rajas/tamas, helping the devotee maintain steadiness in puja, japa, and dhyana directed to Saguna Shiva as the accessible form of Pati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A vrata-style regimen: observe brahmacarya and take only simple havis/pāyasa/fruits at night, supporting focused mantra-japa (such as the Panchakshara) and calm meditation during Shiva worship.