Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 37

शिवज्ञान-प्रश्नः तथा सृष्टौ शिवस्य स्वयमाविर्भावः

Inquiry into Śiva-knowledge and Śiva’s self-manifestation in creation

Devanagari script

तस्मादभ्यर्चयेनित्यं शिवमादित्यरूपिणम् । धर्मकामार्थमुक्त्यर्थं मनसा कर्मणा गिरा

Transliteration

tasmādabhyarcayenityaṃ śivamādityarūpiṇam | dharmakāmārthamuktyarthaṃ manasā karmaṇā girā

Translation

അതുകൊണ്ട് ധർമ്മം, കാമം, അർത്ഥം, ഒടുവിൽ മോക്ഷം എന്നിവ നേടുന്നതിനായി, ആദിത്യരൂപധാരിയായ ഭഗവാൻ ശിവനെ നിത്യം ആരാധിക്കണം—മനസ്സാൽ, കർമത്താൽ, വാക്കാൽ.

Word by Word

• tasmāt: therefore/from that
• tasmāt: Apādāna (अपादान/Ablative source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुँलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अपादानार्थे

• abhyarcaye: worship (you)
• abhyarcaye: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-arc (अभि+अर्च् धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/लोट्), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)

• śivam: Śiva
• śivam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• āditya-rūpiṇam: having the form of the Sun
• āditya-rūpiṇam: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āditya-rūpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (‘having the form of the Sun’), विशेषण (qualifies śivam)

• dharma-kāma-artha-mukti-artham: for the sake of dharma, desire, wealth, and liberation
• dharma-kāma-artha-mukti-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dharma-kāma-artha-mukti-artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोजनार्थे (accusative used adverbially); समाहार-समास-श्रृङ्खला: dharma + kāma + artha + mukti + artham (‘for the sake of …’)

• manasā: with the mind
• manasā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• karmaṇā: with action/deed
• karmaṇā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• girā: with speech
• girā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gir (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a specific Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse teaches nitya-pūjā of Śiva conceived as Āditya (solar theophany), aligning Śiva with the inner and outer light that ripens the four puruṣārthas.

Significance: Daily worship of Śiva-as-Sun is presented as a complete sādhana yielding dharma-artha-kāma and culminating in mokṣa; it frames worldly aims as subordinate to liberating grace.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Solar theophany (Āditya-rūpa) as a cosmological symbol of consciousness and order (ṛta).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Aditya (Sun)

FAQs

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

It teaches integrated sādhana—worship of Śiva with mind, speech, and action—showing that worldly aims (dharma, artha, kāma) are purified and culminate in mokṣa when oriented to Pati (Śiva).

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

By praising Śiva in a specific manifest form (Āditya-rūpa), the verse supports saguna-upāsanā—approaching the transcendent Lord through an accessible form, which in practice may be done through Liṅga-pūjā with the contemplation of His solar radiance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Daily abhyarcana (formal worship) with tri-karaṇa śuddhi—purity of thought, word, and deed—such as offering water and reciting Śiva mantras (e.g., Pañcākṣarī) while meditating on Śiva’s luminous, sun-like presence.