Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 83

Devanagari script

आपन्नो ऽपि गतारिष्टः स्वयं खल्वमृतायते । रसाय नायते नित्यमपथ्यमपि सेवितम्

Transliteration

āpanno 'pi gatāriṣṭaḥ svayaṃ khalvamṛtāyate | rasāya nāyate nityamapathyamapi sevitam

Translation

ਆਪੱਤੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਪਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ ਵੀ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਖ਼ਤਰੇ ਤੋਂ ਮੁਕਤ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ; ਉਹ ਸਾਧਨ ਆਪ ਹੀ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਵਰਗਾ ਬਣ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਪਰ ਜੋ ਅਪਥ ਹੈ, ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਨਿੱਤ ਸੇਵਣ ਨਾਲ ਵੀ ਕਦੇ ਰਸਾਇਣ, ਜੀਵਨਦਾਇਕ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਨਹੀਂ ਬਣਦਾ।

Word by Word

• āpannaḥ: afflicted/fallen into (trouble)
• āpannaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + pad (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘fallen into/afflicted’

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (निपात) = ‘even/also’

• gata-ariṣṭaḥ: whose danger has passed / free from peril
• gata-ariṣṭaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gata (√gam, धातु; क्त) + ariṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘gataṃ ariṣṭaṃ yasya’ in adjectival use; Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• svayam: by itself
• svayam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; reflexive adverb (स्वार्थे)

• khalu: indeed
• khalu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: khalu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle (निपात)

• amṛtāyate: becomes like nectar/acts as ambrosia
• amṛtāyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: amṛta (प्रातिपदिक) + āya (नामधातु)
• Form: Denominative verb (नामधातु) from ‘amṛta’; Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; Ātmanepada

• rasāya: for taste/flavor
• rasāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; negation particle (निषेध)

• āyate: goes/turns
• āyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + i (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; Ātmanepada; ‘goes/turns into’

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya usage (क्रियाविशेषणवत्) of adjective; adverbial accusative = ‘always’

• apathyam: unwholesome
• apathyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- + pathya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; used substantively ‘unwholesome (thing)’

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (निपात) = ‘even/also’

• sevitam: when practiced/consumed
• sevitam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sev (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; here as subject with implied ‘(it) is’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a sthala-purāṇa passage; it uses an āyurvedic/alchemical metaphor (amṛta/rasāyana) to contrast wholesome Śiva-bhakti/vrata with intrinsically unwholesome conduct that never becomes purifying.

Significance: General teaching: sincere Śiva-oriented observance can transmute distress into safety (ariṣṭa-nivṛtti) and spiritual vitality; unwholesome habits do not become saving merely by repetition.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches discernment (viveka): Shiva’s path purifies even a distressed seeker, but intrinsically harmful conduct (apathya)—adharmic habits and impure associations—cannot become spiritually life-giving merely through repetition.

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

In Shaiva Siddhanta, turning to Saguna Shiva through Linga-worship transforms the devotee’s condition—fear and impurity are removed—whereas actions opposed to dharma do not become sanctified just because they are habitual.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt what is ‘pathya’ for Shiva-bhakti: steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), worship of the Linga with purity, and disciplined living; avoid ‘apathya’ habits that obstruct yoga and devotion.