Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 39

ध्यानप्रकारनिर्णयः / Determination of the Modes of Meditation

on Śrīkaṇṭha-Śiva

Devanagari script

तस्माच्छ्रोता च पापीयान्दण्ड्यस्सुमहतां मतः । ये पुनः सततं भक्त्या भजंति शवयोगिनः

Transliteration

tasmācchrotā ca pāpīyāndaṇḍyassumahatāṃ mataḥ | ye punaḥ satataṃ bhaktyā bhajaṃti śavayoginaḥ

Translation

അതുകൊണ്ട് കേട്ടിട്ടും കൂടുതൽ പാപിയാകുന്ന ശ്രോതാവ് മഹന്മാരുടെ അഭിപ്രായത്തിൽ തീർച്ചയായും കഠിനദണ്ഡനാർഹൻ. എന്നാൽ ഭക്തിയോടെ നിരന്തരം ശിവനെ ഭജിക്കുന്ന ശിവയോഗികൾ വേറൊരു നിലയിലുള്ളവർ.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-इति निपातवत् प्रयोगः; हेत्वर्थे अव्ययभावः ‘therefore/from that’ (orig. ablative used adverbially)

• श्रोता: the listener
• श्रोता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रॊतृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular ‘listener’

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

• पापीयान्: more sinful
• पापीयान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तुलनात्मक-विशेषण (comparative) ‘more sinful/worse’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular masculine

• दण्ड्यः: punishable
• दण्ड्यः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दण्ड्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular masculine ‘punishable’

• सु-महताम्: of the very great (ones)
• सु-महताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय-उपसर्गवत्) + महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/उपपद-समास: सु + महत् → सुमहत् ‘very great’; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; genitive plural ‘of the very great (sages)’

• मतः: is considered
• मतः: Kriya (क्रिया-समर्थक/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular masculine ‘considered/held (as)’; used predicatively

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; nominative plural ‘who’

• पुनः: again/further
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति/पुनरर्थक ‘again/further’

• सततम्: constantly
• सततम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्ययीभावः; adverb ‘constantly’ (acc. neuter used adverbially)

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; instrumental singular ‘with devotion’

• भजन्ति: worship/serve
• भजन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; present indicative 3rd pl

• शव-योगिनः: Śiva-yogins
• शव-योगिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक; here written ‘शव’ as textual variant) + योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: (शिवस्य/शवस्य) योगिनः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; nominative plural

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a specific Jyotirliṅga-sthala passage; the verse functions as a dharma-śikṣā on śravaṇa (hearing) and bhakti-yoga, contrasting negligent listeners with steadfast Śiva-yogins.

Significance: General tīrtha-logic: sincere devotion and right hearing purify; hypocritical/heedless hearing increases pāpa and invites daṇḍa (karmic and social censure).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It contrasts fruitless or sinful listening with transformative listening that culminates in steady devotion; true engagement with Śiva’s teaching should mature into constant bhakti and inner discipline, the marks of a Śiva-yogin.

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

By praising continual bhajana, it supports Saguna Śiva-upāsanā—regular worship of Śiva (including Liṅga worship) as a means to purify the pashu (bound soul) and orient the mind toward Pati (Śiva).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is nitya-bhajana: daily worship and remembrance—such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), along with simple Liṅga-pūjā—performed consistently with devotion.