Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 9

भक्ताधिकारि-द्विजधर्म-योगिलक्षणवर्णनम् / Duties of Qualified Devotees and Marks of Yogins

Devanagari script

क्षमा शांतिश्च सन्तोषस्सत्यमस्तेयमेव च । ब्रह्मचर्यं मम ज्ञानं वैराग्यं भस्मसेवनम्

Transliteration

kṣamā śāṃtiśca santoṣassatyamasteyameva ca | brahmacaryaṃ mama jñānaṃ vairāgyaṃ bhasmasevanam

Translation

Kemaafan, ketenangan dan kepuasan; kebenaran serta tidak mencuri; brahmacarya, pengetahuan yang milik-Ku; vairāgya, dan pengamalan bhasma (abu suci) dengan penuh bhakti—itulah kebajikan dan laku-Ku yang menuntun jiwa terikat menuju anugerah pembebasan Śiva.

Word by Word

• क्षमा: forbearance
• क्षमा: Karta (कर्ता/विधेय-सूची)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• शान्तिः: peace
• शान्तिः: Karta (कर्ता/विधेय-सूची)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सन्तोषः: contentment
• सन्तोषः: Karta (कर्ता/विधेय-सूची)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्तोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• सत्यम्: truthfulness
• सत्यम्: Karta (कर्ता/विधेय-सूची)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• अस्तेयम्: non-stealing
• अस्तेयम्: Karta (कर्ता/विधेय-सूची)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-स्तेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; नञ्-समासपूर्वक-प्रातिपदिक (non-stealing)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle: indeed/only)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ब्रह्मचर्यम्: celibacy / brahmacarya
• ब्रह्मचर्यम्: Karta (कर्ता/विधेय-सूची)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म-चर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणि चर्यम्/ब्रह्मसम्बन्धि चर्यम्)

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karta (कर्ता/विधेय-सूची)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• वैराग्यम्: dispassion
• वैराग्यम्: Karta (कर्ता/विधेय-सूची)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैराग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• भस्मसेवनम्: use/application of sacred ash
• भस्मसेवनम्: Karta (कर्ता/विधेय-सूची)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्म-सेवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (भस्मनः सेवनम्)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not kṣetra-specific; a compact list of Śaiva sādhana-virtues (kṣamā, śānti, santoṣa, satya, asteya, brahmacarya, ‘mama jñāna’, vairāgya, bhasma-sevā) functioning as ethical and gnostic prerequisites for liberation.

Significance: Defines the inner and outer marks of a Śaiva: yama-like virtues plus Śiva-jñāna and bhasma; aligns practice toward Śiva’s anugraha (liberating grace).

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It lists Śiva-approved ethical vows and inner disciplines—kṣamā, śānti, santoṣa, satya, asteya, brahmacarya, jñāna, and vairāgya—showing that liberation arises from purifying conduct and knowledge, supported by devotion to Śiva’s grace (pati) that frees the soul (paśu) from bondage (pāśa).

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

These virtues are the inner worship that makes external Linga-pūjā fruitful: truth, non-harming restraint, and dispassion steady the mind so the devotee can approach Saguna Śiva in the Linga with purity and receive His transforming presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Bhasma-sevana—reverent application of sacred ash (Tripuṇḍra)—is explicitly indicated, to be paired with disciplined brahmacarya and contemplative jñāna as daily Shaiva sādhanā, especially suitable for Mahāśivarātri observance.