Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 41

ध्यानप्रकारनिर्णयः / Determination of the Modes of Meditation

on Śrīkaṇṭha-Śiva

Devanagari script

प्रतिश्रयान्नपानाद्यैः शय्याप्रावरणादिभिः । योगधर्मः ससारत्वादभेद्यः पापमुद्गरैः

Transliteration

pratiśrayānnapānādyaiḥ śayyāprāvaraṇādibhiḥ | yogadharmaḥ sasāratvādabhedyaḥ pāpamudgaraiḥ

Translation

پناہ، کھانا پینا، بستر، اوڑھنا بچھونا وغیرہ فراہم کرنے سے یوگ دھرم قائم ہوتا ہے۔ سنسار سے وابستہ ہونے کے باعث یہ یوگ دھرم پاپ کے مُدگر جیسے واروں کے مقابل بھی ناقابلِ شکست اور مضبوط ہو جاتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• प्रतिश्रयात्: from lodging/shelter
• प्रतिश्रयात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; ablative singular ‘from shelter/lodging’

• अन्न-पान-आद्यैः: with food, drink, etc.
• अन्न-पान-आद्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + पान (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (itaretara): अन्नं च पानं च; ‘etc.’ by आदि; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; instrumental plural ‘with food, drink, etc.’

• शय्या-प्रावरण-आदिभिः: with bed, coverings, etc.
• शय्या-प्रावरण-आदिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शय्या (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रावरण (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (itaretara): शय्या च प्रावरणं च; ‘etc.’ by आदि; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; instrumental plural ‘with bed, coverings, etc.’

• योग-धर्मः: the dharma/practice of yoga
• योग-धर्मः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: योगस्य धर्मः ‘the discipline/duty of yoga’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular

• स-सारत्वात्: because of its essential nature
• स-सारत्वात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत् ‘with’) + सारत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास: स + सारत्व (with essentiality); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; ablative singular ‘because of having essence/being substantial’

• अभेद्यः: unbreakable/indestructible
• अभेद्यः: Visheshya-predicate (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभेद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular masculine; predicate adjective qualifying ‘योगधर्मः’

• पाप-मुद्गरैः: by the hammers of sin
• पाप-मुद्गरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + मुद्गर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: पापः मुद्गरः (sin as a ‘hammer’/metaphor) or ‘sinful hammers’; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; instrumental plural

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a single shrine; it articulates a practical dharma: supporting Śiva-yogins through hospitality (shelter, food, bedding) stabilizes yoga-dharma and resists pāpa.

Significance: General merit of atithi-sevā and sādhū-sevā: supporting Śiva-oriented renunciants strengthens one’s own dharma and purifies karmic obstacles.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that compassionate service—meeting others’ basic needs like shelter, food, and rest—stabilizes one’s yoga-dharma, making the mind fit for Shiva-realization and resistant to the karmic force of sin.

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

In Shaiva practice, Linga-worship is not only ritual but also conduct: serving living beings as Shiva’s presence (saguna expression) supports inner purity, which strengthens devotion and meditation directed to the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is seva as a yogic discipline: give food/water and offer shelter as a vow, while maintaining japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and a steady, sattvic routine that supports meditation.