Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 11

शिशुकस्य शिवशास्त्रप्राप्तिः (Śiśuka’s Attainment of Śaiva Teaching and Grace)

Devanagari script

कदाचित्क्षीरमत्यल्पं पीतवान्मातुलाश्रमे । ईर्षयया मातुलसुतं संतृप्तक्षीरमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

kadācitkṣīramatyalpaṃ pītavānmātulāśrame | īrṣayayā mātulasutaṃ saṃtṛptakṣīramuttamam

Translation

Pada suatu ketika, ketika tinggal di pertapaan bapa saudara sebelah ibu, dia hanya meminum sedikit susu. Namun kerana iri hati, dia memandang anak bapa saudaranya yang kenyang dengan susu yang terbaik.

Word by Word

• kadācit: once / at some time
• kadācit: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadācit (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• kṣīram: milk
• kṣīram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• ati-alpam: very little
• ati-alpam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati (अव्यय) + alpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); समासः—अव्ययीभावः (अति + अल्पम् = very little)

• pītavān: having drunk / drank
• pītavān: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pā (धातु) + kta-vat (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्तवत्-प्रत्ययान्त (past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• mātula-āśrame: in the maternal-uncle’s hermitage
• mātula-āśrame: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātula (प्रातिपदिक) + āśrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (singular); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (मातुलस्य आश्रमः)

• īrṣyayā: out of jealousy
• īrṣyayā: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु, Instrument/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īrṣyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• mātula-sutam: the maternal uncle’s son (cousin)
• mātula-sutam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātula (प्रातिपदिक) + suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (मातुलस्य सुतः)

• saṃtṛpta-kṣīram: satiating milk
• saṃtṛpta-kṣīram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃtṛpta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + kṣīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); समासः—कर्मधारयः (संतृप्तं क्षीरम् = satiating milk)

• uttamam: excellent / best
• uttamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• maternal uncle
• uncle’s son

FAQs

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

It highlights īrṣyā (jealousy) as an inner bondage that clouds discernment and deepens karmic limitation; Shaiva Siddhanta treats such passions as pasha-like constraints to be purified through devotion, discipline, and right understanding.

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

Though not directly mentioning the Liṅga, the verse sets the ethical ground for Saguna Shiva worship: approaching Shiva with a purified heart. Envy obstructs bhakti; Liṅga-upāsanā is traditionally paired with inner cleansing—humility, contentment, and non-resentment.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to counter jealousy with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and daily self-examination (svādhyāya); if following Shiva Purana norms, pair it with calm morning worship, offering water/milk to the Liṅga with a vow of contentment.