Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 40

शक्तितत्त्ववर्णनम् / Exposition of the Principle of Śakti

Devanagari script

तस्माद्विवर्धयेद्भक्तिं शिवे परमकारणे । त्यजेच्च विषयासंगं श्रेयो ऽर्थी मतिमान्नरः

Transliteration

tasmādvivardhayedbhaktiṃ śive paramakāraṇe | tyajecca viṣayāsaṃgaṃ śreyo 'rthī matimānnaraḥ

Translation

پس جو دانا شخص اعلیٰ ترین خیر کا طالب ہو، وہ پرم کارن شیو میں اپنی بھکتی کو برابر بڑھائے اور موضوعاتِ حِسّی کی آسکتی کا سنگ ترک کرے۔

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu/Apādāna-arthaka (हेतु/अपादानार्थक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), तस्मात्-इति तद्धित/प्रयोगः; अर्थे—"therefore/from that" (ablatival sense)

• विवर्धयेत्: should increase
• विवर्धयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृध् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; causative sense in usage: "should increase"

• भक्तिम्: devotion
• भक्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine/स्त्री), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular/एकवचन)

• शिवे: in Śiva
• शिवे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine/पुं), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• परमकारणे: in the supreme cause
• परमकारणे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम-कारण (प्रातिपदिक; परम + कारण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter/नपुं), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (परमं कारणम्)

• त्यजेत्: should abandon
• त्यजेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

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

• विषयासङ्गम्: attachment to sense-objects
• विषयासङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विषय-असङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक; विषय + असङ्ग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विषयेषु असङ्गः/विषयाणाम् असङ्गः)

• श्रेयः: the highest good
• श्रेयः: Karma/Phala (कर्म/फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• अर्थी: desiring
• अर्थी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्—"desiring" (arthin)

• मतिमान्: wise
• मतिमान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मतिमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्—"intelligent"

• नरः: a man/person
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Cultivating bhakti to Śiva as the Supreme Cause and practicing viṣayāsaṅga-tyāga are presented as direct supports for śreyas (mokṣa).

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that liberation-oriented life rests on two pillars: intensifying Shiva-bhakti (turning the heart toward Pati, the Supreme Cause) and loosening bondage by abandoning attachment to sense-objects (pāśa).

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

By urging devotion “in Shiva,” it supports Saguna upāsanā such as Linga worship as a practical focus for the mind; through such steady bhakti, the seeker is led toward the Supreme Cause beyond worldly fixation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate daily Shiva-bhakti through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namah Shivaya) and simple Linga-pūjā, paired with disciplined vairāgya—reducing indulgence and repeatedly returning the mind to Shiva in meditation.