Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 55

शिवसंस्कार-दीक्षानिरूपणम् (Śivasaṃskāra and the Typology of Dīkṣā)

Devanagari script

तदा शैवो भवेद्देही न ततो ऽस्ति पुनर्भवः । गुरुश्च स्वाश्रितं शिष्यं वर्षमेकं परीक्षयेत्

Transliteration

tadā śaivo bhaveddehī na tato 'sti punarbhavaḥ | guruśca svāśritaṃ śiṣyaṃ varṣamekaṃ parīkṣayet

Translation

Kung magkagayon, ang may-katawang kaluluwa ay nagiging tunay na Śaiva; mula roon ay wala nang muling pagsilang. At dapat siyasatin ng Guru ang alagad na sumilong sa kanya sa loob ng isang buong taon.

Word by Word

• तदा: then
• तदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (then)

• शैवः: a Śaiva (devotee of Śiva)
• शैवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेष्य (देही)

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• देही: the embodied being
• देही: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देहिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• ततः: thereafter/from that
• ततः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-रूपेण अव्ययीभाव/क्रियाविशेषण (ablatival adverb: ‘thereafter/from that’)

• अस्ति: is/exists
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• पुनः-भवः: rebirth
• पुनः-भवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय) + भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव-समास (‘पुनः भवः’)

• गुरुः: the teacher
• गुरुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

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

• स्व-आश्रितम्: one who has taken refuge in him
• स्व-आश्रितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व + आश्रित (प्रातिपदिक; √श्रि-आश्रय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त ‘आश्रित’; कर्मधारय-समास (‘स्वं आश्रितः’)

• शिष्यम्: the disciple
• शिष्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• वर्षम्: for a year
• वर्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कालपरिमाण (duration)

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषण (वर्षम्)

• परीक्षयेत्: should examine/test
• परीक्षयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-√ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Guru
• Disciple

FAQs

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

It teaches that authentic Śaiva transformation—grounded in Śiva as Pati and attained through proper guidance—culminates in liberation (freedom from punarbhava), not merely external identity.

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

Becoming “Śaiva” implies steady commitment to Śiva-upāsanā (often centered on the Liṅga as Saguna support), matured under the Guru’s discipline until the bondages (pāśa) are loosened and liberation becomes possible.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse highlights the discipline of dīkṣā and sādhana under a Guru—regular Śiva-japa (such as the Pañcākṣarī), worship, and observances—after the disciple is carefully tested for readiness and sincerity.