Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

सर्वक्रियान्न सन्त्यागः श्रद्धान्नस्य च वर्जनम् । तथा पर्युषितान्नस्य यावकस्य विशेषतः

Transliteration

sarvakriyānna santyāgaḥ śraddhānnasya ca varjanam | tathā paryuṣitānnasya yāvakasya viśeṣataḥ

Translation

Не следует оставлять пищу, поддерживающую все священные деяния; и не следует отвергать пищу, принесённую с верой. Также надлежит избегать залежалой, вчерашней пищи — особенно приготовленной из yāvaka (грубой ячменной каши/ячменного блюда).

Word by Word

• सर्वक्रियान्न: food (used) for all rites
• सर्वक्रियान्न: Karta (कर्ता/उद्देश्य-विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-क्रिया-अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वक्रियाणाम् अन्नम्)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• सन्त्यागः: abandonment
• सन्त्यागः: Karta (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्-त्याग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• श्रद्धान्नस्य: of faith-offering food
• श्रद्धान्नस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रद्धा-अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (श्रद्धायाः अन्नम्)

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

• वर्जनम्: avoidance
• वर्जनम्: Karta (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्योपपादन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थ (adverb: likewise)

• पर्युषितान्नस्य: of stale/kept-over food
• पर्युषितान्नस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्युषित-अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (पर्युषितम् अन्नम्)

• यावकस्य: of barley-gruel (yāvaka)
• यावकस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यावक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणभाव/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारार्थ (adverb: especially)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Dietary and dharma-supporting guidance: do not renounce sustaining food for rites, do not reject śraddhā-given food, and avoid stale food (esp. yāvaka).

Significance: Supports vrata sustainability and ritual fitness (adhikāra) through sāttvika, timely food—seen as enabling steady practice rather than extreme deprivation.

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

FAQs

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

It frames āhāra (food) as a support for dharma and sādhana: nourishment should uphold worship and right conduct, while stale or unsuitable food is discouraged because it weakens clarity, discipline, and ritual purity on the Shaiva path.

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

Linga-worship emphasizes inner and outer śauca (purity). Accepting food offered with śraddhā supports devotion and community dharma, while avoiding stale foods preserves the steadiness and sattva needed for daily pūjā, mantra-japa, and temple observances.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain disciplined, fresh, faith-offered meals on worship days; this supports steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and clean observances alongside Shaiva marks like bhasma/tripuṇḍra where prescribed.