Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 56

ध्यानप्रकारनिर्णयः / Determination of the Modes of Meditation

on Śrīkaṇṭha-Śiva

Devanagari script

तस्माच्छीघ्रतरा मुक्तिस्तस्य संसारमंडलात् । एतेष्वन्यतमोपायं कथमप्यवलम्ब्य वा

Transliteration

tasmācchīghratarā muktistasya saṃsāramaṃḍalāt | eteṣvanyatamopāyaṃ kathamapyavalambya vā

Translation

เพราะฉะนั้น การหลุดพ้นจากวงล้อแห่งสังสาระย่อมมาถึงเขาได้รวดยิ่งขึ้น—หากเขาอาศัยพึ่งพาวิธีใดวิธีหนึ่งในบรรดาวิธีที่กล่าวไว้ ณ ที่นี้ ไม่ว่าด้วยประการใดก็ตาม.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore, from that
• तस्मात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान; from that reason)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• शीघ्रतरा: swifter, quicker
• शीघ्रतरा: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; तरप्-प्रत्यय (comparative)

• मुक्तिः: liberation
• मुक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• संसारमण्डलात्: from the circle/realm of saṃsāra
• संसारमण्डलात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसारमण्डल (प्रातिपदिक; संसार + मण्डल)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• एतेषु: among these
• एतेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location; among these)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन

• अन्यतमोपायम्: some one means (any one method)
• अन्यतमोपायम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of अवलम्ब्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्यतमोपाय (प्रातिपदिक; अन्यतम + उपाय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; अन्यतमः उपायः (one particular means)

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (interrogative/manner adverb)

• अपि: even, somehow
• अपि: Nipata (निपात/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/समुच्चय-अव्यय (particle: even/also)

• अवलम्ब्य: having resorted to, having relied on
• अवलम्ब्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + लम्ब् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal)

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प/Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that bondage (saṃsāra) is overcome quickly when a seeker firmly relies on a valid upāya (means) oriented to Pati (Shiva), showing that wholehearted refuge and steady practice accelerate liberation.

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

“Any one of these means” can include Saguna supports such as Linga-worship, mantra-japa, and devotional service; by taking shelter of Shiva through an accessible form, the mind becomes purified and fit for Shiva’s grace that grants mukti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to adopt one Shaiva discipline consistently—such as Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), Linga-puja with devotion, or meditation on Shiva—rather than wavering among many practices.