Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 4

काम्यकर्मविभागः — Taxonomy of Kāmya (Desire-Motivated) Śaiva Rites

Devanagari script

किंचित्क्रियामयं कर्म किंचित्कर्म तपो मयम् । जपध्यानमयं किंचित्किंचित्सर्वमयं तथा

Transliteration

kiṃcitkriyāmayaṃ karma kiṃcitkarma tapo mayam | japadhyānamayaṃ kiṃcitkiṃcitsarvamayaṃ tathā

Translation

กรรมบางอย่างเป็นไปในรูปพิธีกรรมเป็นหลัก บางอย่างเป็นตบะเป็นหลัก บางอย่างประกอบด้วยชปะและสมาธิ และบางอย่างเป็นแบบครอบคลุมทั้งหมด คือรวมทุกแนวทางแห่งการปฏิบัติไว้ด้วยกัน

Word by Word

• किञ्चित्: some
• किञ्चित्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किञ्चित् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (some)

• क्रिया-मयम्: consisting of ritual action
• क्रिया-मयम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (मयट्-अर्थे: क्रियया मयम् = consisting of action); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कर्म: act, rite
• कर्म: कर्ता/विषय (Karta/Viṣaya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• किञ्चित्: some
• किञ्चित्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किञ्चित् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कर्म: act, rite
• कर्म: कर्ता/विषय (Karta/Viṣaya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तपः-मयम्: consisting of austerity
• तपः-मयम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (तपसा मयम् = consisting of austerity); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• जप-ध्यान-मयम्: consisting of japa and meditation
• जप-ध्यान-मयम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्वपूर्वक-तत्पुरुष (जपं च ध्यानं च तयोः मयम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• किञ्चित्: some
• किञ्चित्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किञ्चित् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• किञ्चित्: some
• किञ्चित्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किञ्चित् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सर्व-मयम्: all-inclusive, consisting of everything
• सर्व-मयम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (सर्वेण मयम् = consisting of everything); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तथा: and likewise
• तथा: समुच्चय (Samuccaya)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/सादृश्यबोधक-अव्यय

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It classifies spiritual practice into action (kriyā), austerity (tapas), mantra-repetition and contemplation (japa–dhyāna), and integrated practice, implying that multiple valid paths can mature the soul toward Shiva (Pati) when performed with right intention and devotion.

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana naturally includes kriyā (pūjā, abhiṣeka), tapas (vrata, restraint), and japa–dhyāna (Pañcākṣarī and inner contemplation), showing Saguna worship as a complete discipline that can culminate in higher realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt a balanced sādhana: perform Shiva-pūjā with disciplined conduct, take up a vrata or tapas as capacity allows, and daily do japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with dhyāna on Shiva; on Mahāśivarātri, intensify japa and night-long meditation alongside simple worship.