Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

शिवाश्रिता हि ते शैवा ज्ञानयज्ञरता नराः । माहेश्वरास्समाख्याता कर्मयज्ञरता भुवि

Transliteration

śivāśritā hi te śaivā jñānayajñaratā narāḥ | māheśvarāssamākhyātā karmayajñaratā bhuvi

Translation

جو شیو کی پناہ میں ہیں اور علم کی قربانی میں مصروف ہیں، وہ شیو کے ماننے والے ہیں۔ اس زمین پر جو عمل کی قربانی میں مصروف ہیں، وہ مہیشور کہلاتے ہیں۔

Word by Word

• śiva-āśritāḥ: Śiva-dependent / taking refuge in Śiva
• śiva-āśritāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + āśrita (कृदन्त; ā-√śri श्रि + क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त) used adjectivally; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘those who have taken refuge in Śiva’

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात; emphasis/causal)

• te: they/those
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक; सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• śaivāḥ: Śaivas
• śaivāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); in apposition to te

• jñāna-yajña-ratāḥ: devoted to the knowledge-sacrifice
• jñāna-yajña-ratāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + yajña (प्रातिपदिक) + rata (कृदन्त; √ram रम् + क्त)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘devoted to the sacrifice of knowledge’

• narāḥ: men/people
• narāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• māheśvarāḥ: Māheśvaras
• māheśvarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māheśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• samākhyātāḥ: are called/known as
• samākhyātāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया; nominal predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ā-√khyā (धातु; ख्या) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); predicate adjective ‘are called’

• karma-yajña-ratāḥ: devoted to ritual-action sacrifice
• karma-yajña-ratāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karma (प्रातिपदिक) + yajña (प्रातिपदिक) + rata (कृदन्त; √ram रम् + क्त)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘devoted to the sacrifice of action/rites’

• bhuvi: on earth/in the world
• bhuvi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhū (प्रातिपदिक; स्त्रीलिङ्ग)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s teachings in the Vāyavīya Saṃhitā context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse distinguishes two Shaiva orientations: inner worship as jñāna-yajña (self-purifying knowledge leading toward liberation under Shiva’s grace) and outer worship as karma-yajña (right ritual action and duty). Both are framed as Shiva-centered paths, with refuge in Shiva as the foundation.

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

Karma-yajña aligns with Saguna Shiva worship through prescribed rites—such as Linga-pūjā, offerings, and observances—performed as sacred duty. Jñāna-yajña points to the inward assimilation of Shiva-tattva (Shiva as Pati) where ritual matures into contemplative realization, without rejecting devotional forms.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Karma-yajña suggests disciplined Shiva worship (daily Linga-pūjā, vrata, and offerings). Jñāna-yajña suggests meditation on Shiva and mantra-japa (especially the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as an inner sacrifice that refines awareness toward moksha.