Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 31

अनुग्रह-स्वातन्त्र्य-प्रमाणविचारः | Inquiry into Pramāṇa, Divine Autonomy, and Grace

Devanagari script

हितार्थलक्षणं चेदं दण्डान्तमनुशासनम् । अतो यद्विपरीतं तदहितं संप्रचक्षते

Transliteration

hitārthalakṣaṇaṃ cedaṃ daṇḍāntamanuśāsanam | ato yadviparītaṃ tadahitaṃ saṃpracakṣate

Translation

हे अनुशासन—आवश्यकतेनुसार दंडपर्यंत जाणारे—खऱ्या हिताचे लक्षण आहे. म्हणून याच्या विरुद्ध जे आहे ते अहितकारक म्हणतात.

Word by Word

• हितार्थलक्षणम्: a definition/mark of beneficial purpose
• हितार्थलक्षणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित-अर्थ-लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (हितस्य अर्थः = हितार्थः; हितार्थस्य लक्षणम्)

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

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दण्डान्तम्: ending in punishment
• दण्डान्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दण्ड-अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (दण्डः अन्तः यस्य/दण्डेन अन्तः)

• अनुशासनम्: instruction/discipline
• अनुशासनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनु-शास् (धातु) + अन (प्रत्यय) → अनुशासन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; कृदन्त-भाववाचक (action-noun)

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/तस्मात्-अर्थ (therefore/from this)

• यत्: whatever/that which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• विपरीतम्: contrary/opposite
• विपरीतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपरीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; निर्देश-सर्वनाम (demonstrative)

• अहितम्: harmful/not beneficial
• अहितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• संप्रचक्षते: they declare/call
• संप्रचक्षते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-प्र-चक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

FAQs

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

It teaches that true spiritual guidance (anuśāsana) is meant for hita—real welfare leading away from bondage (pāśa) and toward Shiva (Pati). Even firm correction is beneficial when it protects the soul from harmful, ego-driven paths.

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

Linga-worship embodies disciplined alignment with Shiva’s order—purity, restraint, and right conduct. The verse supports the idea that Shaiva practice is not merely devotional feeling but regulated sādhanā that removes what is ‘viparīta’ (contrary) to dharma and bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is disciplined daily sādhana: steady japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), along with purity-observances and self-restraint; corrective measures (like vows/niyamas) are ‘hita’ when they curb harmful tendencies.