Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 34

शिवसंस्कार-दीक्षानिरूपणम् (Śivasaṃskāra and the Typology of Dīkṣā)

Devanagari script

असमक्षं समक्षं वा तस्य कार्यं समाचरेत् । इत्थमाचारवान्भक्तो नित्यमुद्युक्तमानसः

Transliteration

asamakṣaṃ samakṣaṃ vā tasya kāryaṃ samācaret | itthamācāravānbhakto nityamudyuktamānasaḥ

Translation

Quer na Sua presença, quer na Sua ausência, deve-se cumprir devidamente o que há de ser feito por Ele. Assim, o devoto firmado na reta conduta mantém a mente sempre diligente—firme no serviço e disciplinado na devoção.

Word by Word

• असमक्षम्: not in (his) presence
• असमक्षम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: a-samakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), उपसर्ग-निषेधपूर्वकं अव्ययप्रयोगः; adverbial usage ‘not in presence’

• समक्षम्: in (his) presence
• समक्षम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya); adverbial usage ‘in presence’

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात (particle of alternative)

• तस्य: of him/that
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; genitive pronoun

• कार्यम्: the task/duty
• कार्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; object noun

• समाचरेत्: should perform
• समाचरेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√car (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इत्थम्: thus/in this manner
• इत्थम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ittham (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• आचारवान्: conducted/observant
• आचारवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ācāra-vat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण (possessive adjective ‘having conduct’)

• भक्तः: devotee
• भक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन अव्ययप्रयोगः; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• उद्युक्तमानसः: with a diligent/engaged mind
• उद्युक्तमानसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udyukta-mānasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः कर्मधारयः (udyuktaḥ mānasaḥ yasya/udyuktaṃ mānasaṃ); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches integrity in devotion: true bhakti is measured by steady right conduct and sincere service that does not depend on being seen, aligning the mind continuously toward Shiva as Pati (the Lord) and the path of liberation.

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

Linga-worship trains the devotee to honor Shiva both outwardly and inwardly; this verse emphasizes that worship and service should be consistent—performed with the same reverence whether in public rituals or private practice, keeping Saguna worship rooted in inner sincerity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain daily Shiva-ācāra: regular japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), simple Linga-pūjā with clean discipline, and a constant ‘udyukta’ mind—attentive remembrance—whether alone or among others.