Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 17

साधक-दीक्षा तथा मन्त्रसाधन

Puraścaraṇa and the Discipline of the Mantra-Sādhaka

Devanagari script

ततश्च पायसाक्षारलवणैकमिताशनः । अहिंसकः क्षमी शांतो दांतश्चैव सदा भवेत्

Transliteration

tataśca pāyasākṣāralavaṇaikamitāśanaḥ | ahiṃsakaḥ kṣamī śāṃto dāṃtaścaiva sadā bhavet

Translation

Selepas itu, hendaklah dia makan dengan sukatan—hidangan sederhana seperti olahan susu, bubur beralkali, dan garam sahaja—serta sentiasa tidak melakukan kekerasan, pemaaf, tenang, dan mengawal diri.

Word by Word

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय/तद्-तसिल्)
• Form: अव्यय (Adverb: ‘thereafter/then’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• पायस-क्षार-लवण-एक-मित-आशनः: one whose food is measured and limited to payasa, alkaline (food), and salt (only)
• पायस-क्षार-लवण-एक-मित-आशनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पायस (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षार (प्रातिपदिक) + लवण (प्रातिपदिक) + एक (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + मित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + आशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (यस्य आशनं पायस-क्षार-लवण-एक-मितम्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अहिंसकः: non-violent
• अहिंसकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अहिंसक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• क्षमी: forgiving
• क्षमी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षमिन्/क्षमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; इकारान्त विशेषण

• शान्तः: peaceful
• शान्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (शम् धातोः क्त)

• दान्तः: self-controlled
• दान्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दान्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (दम् धातोः क्त)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle: indeed)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (Adverb of time: always)

• भवेत्: should be/become
• भवेत्: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya teaching to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Ethical and dietary restraints are presented as universal supports to Śiva-sādhana, not as a local shrine legend; they function like vrata-niyamas accompanying japa.

Significance: Frames liberation as requiring both mantra and conduct: moderation in food and cultivation of ahiṃsā, kṣamā, śānti, and dama—weakening pāśa (bondage) that conceals Śiva.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It prescribes a Shaiva sādhaka’s foundational discipline: moderation in food and the inner virtues of ahiṃsā, kṣamā, śānti, and dama. In Shaiva Siddhānta terms, these reduce pāśa (bondage) by purifying the mind, making it fit for Shiva-bhakti and liberating knowledge.

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

Linga-worship is not only external ritual; it is sustained by inner purity. Non-violence, restraint, and calmness stabilize the worshipper so that offerings, japa, and dhyāna become sattvic and focused—supporting devotion to Saguna Shiva and opening the seeker toward Shiva as Pati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse implies vrata-like discipline: measured eating (often aligned with fasting or simple diet), paired with daily japa and meditation done with a quiet, forgiving, self-restrained mind—an ideal support for Panchākṣarī practice and regular Linga-pūjā.