Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 19

शिवसंस्कार-दीक्षानिरूपणम् (Śivasaṃskāra and the Typology of Dīkṣā)

Devanagari script

शिष्यस्तु शिक्षणीयत्वाद्गुरोर्गौरवकारणात् । तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन गुरोर्गौरवमाचरेत्

Transliteration

śiṣyastu śikṣaṇīyatvādgurorgauravakāraṇāt | tasmātsarvaprayatnena gurorgauravamācaret

Translation

เพราะศิษย์เป็นผู้ควรได้รับการฝึกสอน และครูเป็นเหตุแห่งความเคารพยำเกรง ดังนั้นจึงควรพยายามทุกประการเพื่อประพฤติและธำรงความเคารพต่อครูของตน.

Word by Word

• śiṣyaḥ: the disciple
• śiṣyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avadhāraṇa/viśeṣa-avyaya (particle/अव्यय) = 'but/indeed'

• śikṣaṇīyatvāt: because of being teachable/fit to be instructed
• śikṣaṇīyatvāt: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śikṣaṇīyatva (प्रातिपदिक; from śikṣaṇīya)
• Form: Napुṃsakaliṅga, Pañcamī vibhakti (Ablative/पञ्चमी), Ekavacana; hetu sense (cause)

• guroḥ: of the guru
• guroḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Genitive/षष्ठी), Ekavacana

• gaurava-kāraṇāt: from the cause of (showing) respect
• gaurava-kāraṇāt: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaurava (प्रातिपदिक) + kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsakaliṅga, Pañcamī vibhakti (Ablative/पञ्चमी), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'cause of respect'

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative-form used adverbially (tasmāt/तस्मात्) = 'therefore/from that'

• sarva-prayatnena: with all effort
• sarva-prayatnena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + prayatna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental), Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: 'all/complete effort'

• guroḥ: of the guru
• guroḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• gauravam: respect/reverence
• gauravam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaurava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative), Ekavacana

• ācaret: should practice/should show
• ācaret: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-car (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (Optative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana, Parasmaipada; ā- upasarga

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Positions guru-bhakti as a primary means for receiving Śiva’s grace: reverence stabilizes discipline, reduces egoic obstruction (āṇava), and supports progress toward liberation.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes Guru-reverence (guru-gaurava) as a core discipline for the disciple, implying that humility and obedience to right instruction are essential for progressing toward Shiva-realization and liberation.

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

In Shaiva practice, correct Linga worship, mantra-japa, and inner contemplation are learned through the Guru; honoring the Guru safeguards the purity of Saguna Shiva-upasana and leads the seeker toward the higher truth of Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain daily guru-vandana (salutation and remembrance of the Guru) and follow the Guru’s instructions for mantra-dīkṣā and japa—especially the Panchakshara—before undertaking Linga worship, bhasma (tripuṇḍra), or rudrākṣa observances.