Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 50
शिवज्ञान-प्रश्नः तथा सृष्टौ शिवस्य स्वयमाविर्भावः
Inquiry into Śiva-knowledge and Śiva’s self-manifestation in creation
तत्र तत्र विभोः शिष्याश्चत्वारः स्युर्महौजसः । शिष्यास्तेषां प्रशिष्याश्च शतशो ऽथ सहस्रशः
tatra tatra vibhoḥ śiṣyāścatvāraḥ syurmahaujasaḥ | śiṣyāsteṣāṃ praśiṣyāśca śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ
ในทุกแห่ง พระผู้เป็นสากลมีศิษย์ผู้ทรงเดชทางจิตวิญญาณสี่คน และศิษย์เหล่านั้นก็มีศิษย์และศิษย์ชั้นต่อไปเป็นร้อย ๆ แล้วเป็นพัน ๆ
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Role: teaching
FAQs
It highlights how Śiva’s grace and knowledge flow through a living guru–disciple lineage, expanding from a few illumined teachers into vast communities of seekers—showing that liberation-oriented wisdom is meant to be transmitted and preserved.
The verse emphasizes Saguna Śiva’s compassionate activity in the world—establishing disciples everywhere—by which Linga-worship, mantra, and Shaiva disciplines are taught, safeguarded, and spread through authorized teachers.
It implicitly points to taking refuge in a competent Shaiva guru and receiving disciplined practice—especially mantra-japa (such as the Panchakshara), along with regular worship and yogic conduct—so the teaching can be realized and then responsibly passed on.