Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 5

साधक-दीक्षा तथा मन्त्रसाधन

Puraścaraṇa and the Discipline of the Mantra-Sādhaka

Devanagari script

तत्र विद्योपदेशांतं कृत्वा विस्तरशः क्रमात् । पुष्पाम्बुना शिशोः पाणौ विद्यां शैवीं समर्पयेत्

Transliteration

tatra vidyopadeśāṃtaṃ kṛtvā vistaraśaḥ kramāt | puṣpāmbunā śiśoḥ pāṇau vidyāṃ śaivīṃ samarpayet

Translation

Ali, tendo concluído a instrução do conhecimento sagrado de modo detalhado e ordenado, deve-se conferir ao menino a vidyā śaiva, colocando-a em sua mão com água santificada por flores.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there; in that context
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb)

• विद्या-उपदेश-अन्तम्: the conclusion/end of the instruction of knowledge
• विद्या-उपदेश-अन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक) + उपदेश (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः (विद्यायाः उपदेशस्य अन्तः)

• कृत्वा: having done/completed
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• विस्तरशः: in detail; elaborately
• विस्तरशः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विस्तरशस् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (manner adverb)

• क्रमात्: in sequence; stepwise
• क्रमात्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे (adverbial)

• पुष्प-अम्बुना: with flower-water (water with flowers)
• पुष्प-अम्बुना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; समासः (पुष्पयुक्तम् अम्बु)

• शिशोः: of the child
• शिशोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• पाणौ: in/on the hand
• पाणौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• विद्याम्: knowledge; the vidyā
• विद्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• शैवीम्: Śaiva; pertaining to Śiva
• शैवीम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शैवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (modifies विद्याम्)

• समर्पयेत्: should offer/entrust
• समर्पयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + अर्पय् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya, within the Vāyavīya discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that Śaiva spiritual knowledge is received through orderly instruction and sanctified transmission, indicating that mantra-vidyā becomes effective when conferred with purity, reverence, and proper method—aligning with the Shaiva Siddhanta stress on disciplined upadeśa leading toward Śiva’s grace.

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

By speaking of “Śaivī vidyā,” the verse points to mantra-based devotion that supports Saguna worship—such as Linga-pūjā—where the mantra and ritual purity (sanctified water) integrate inner remembrance with outer worship, making the devotee fit for Śiva-bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A formal upadeśa/dīkṣā-like act: after teaching step-by-step, the teacher ritually places sanctified flower-water into the child’s hand to symbolize the handing over of Śaiva mantra-knowledge for regular japa and devotion (e.g., Panchākṣarī practice where applicable).