Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 2

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

Devanagari script

त्रिः स्नानं चाग्निकार्यं च लिंगार्चनमनुक्रमम् । दानमीश्ररभावश्च दया सर्वत्र सर्वदा

Transliteration

triḥ snānaṃ cāgnikāryaṃ ca liṃgārcanamanukramam | dānamīśrarabhāvaśca dayā sarvatra sarvadā

Translation

மூன்று முறை ஸ்நானம், அக்னிகாரியம், மேலும் முறையாக சிவலிங்க ஆராதனை; தானம், ஈசுவரபக்தி-பாவம், மற்றும் எங்கும் எப்போதும் கருணை—இவை கடைப்பிடிக்கப்பட வேண்டும்।

Word by Word

• त्रिः: thrice
• त्रिः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रिः (अव्यय)
• Form: संख्यावाचक अव्यय (adverb: thrice)

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karta (कर्ता/Item in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अग्निकार्यम्: fire-ritual duty
• अग्निकार्यम्: Karta (कर्ता/Item in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (अग्नेः कार्यम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• लिङ्गार्चनम्: worship of the liṅga
• लिङ्गार्चनम्: Karta (कर्ता/Item in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग + अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (लिङ्गस्य अर्चनम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अनुक्रमम्: in proper sequence
• अनुक्रमम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial accusative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; (क्रियाविशेषणवत्: 'in due order')

• दानम्: charity
• दानम्: Karta (कर्ता/Item in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ईश्वरभावः: devotion/attitude toward Īśvara
• ईश्वरभावः: Karta (कर्ता/Item in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (ईश्वरस्य भावः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• दया: compassion
• दया: Karta (कर्ता/Item in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सर्वत्र: everywhere
• सर्वत्र: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb: everywhere)

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb: always)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a single shrine; it outlines daily disciplines (caryā/kriyā) that prepare the bound soul (paśu) for Śiva’s grace.

Significance: Teaches that regular purity (snāna), Vedic duty (agni-kārya), liṅga-arcana, dāna, īśvara-bhāva, and dayā collectively refine the paśu and loosen pāśa (bondage).

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines a Shaiva code of conduct where outer purity (regular bathing and rites) is joined with inner purity (Īśvara-bhāva) and ethical refinement (dāna and dayā), aligning the soul (paśu) toward the Lord (Pati) through disciplined practice.

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

Liṅga-arcana “in proper order” emphasizes structured Saguna worship—approaching Śiva through consecrated ritual and reverence—so that devotion becomes steady and transformative rather than casual or irregular.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A daily regimen is implied: thrice bathing, performing agni-kārya (as per one’s tradition), then Liṅga worship, supported by charity and constant compassion—practices that prepare the mind for mantra and focused bhakti.