Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 39

ध्यानप्रकारनिर्णयः / Determination of the Modes of Meditation

on Śrīkaṇṭha-Śiva

Devanagari script

तस्माच्छ्रोता च पापीयान्दण्ड्यस्सुमहतां मतः । ये पुनः सततं भक्त्या भजंति शवयोगिनः

Transliteration

tasmācchrotā ca pāpīyāndaṇḍyassumahatāṃ mataḥ | ye punaḥ satataṃ bhaktyā bhajaṃti śavayoginaḥ

Translation

Vì vậy, kẻ nghe mà lại càng thêm tội lỗi thì theo ý kiến bậc đại nhân, hẳn đáng chịu hình phạt nặng. Còn các Śiva-yogin, những người thờ phụng Śiva không ngừng bằng bhakti, thuộc một bậc khác—kiên định trong lòng mộ đạo và an trú trên con đường hợp nhất với Śiva.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-इति निपातवत् प्रयोगः; हेत्वर्थे अव्ययभावः ‘therefore/from that’ (orig. ablative used adverbially)

• श्रोता: the listener
• श्रोता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रॊतृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular ‘listener’

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

• पापीयान्: more sinful
• पापीयान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तुलनात्मक-विशेषण (comparative) ‘more sinful/worse’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular masculine

• दण्ड्यः: punishable
• दण्ड्यः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दण्ड्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular masculine ‘punishable’

• सु-महताम्: of the very great (ones)
• सु-महताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय-उपसर्गवत्) + महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/उपपद-समास: सु + महत् → सुमहत् ‘very great’; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; genitive plural ‘of the very great (sages)’

• मतः: is considered
• मतः: Kriya (क्रिया-समर्थक/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular masculine ‘considered/held (as)’; used predicatively

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; nominative plural ‘who’

• पुनः: again/further
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति/पुनरर्थक ‘again/further’

• सततम्: constantly
• सततम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्ययीभावः; adverb ‘constantly’ (acc. neuter used adverbially)

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; instrumental singular ‘with devotion’

• भजन्ति: worship/serve
• भजन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; present indicative 3rd pl

• शव-योगिनः: Śiva-yogins
• शव-योगिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक; here written ‘शव’ as textual variant) + योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: (शिवस्य/शवस्य) योगिनः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; nominative plural

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a specific Jyotirliṅga-sthala passage; the verse functions as a dharma-śikṣā on śravaṇa (hearing) and bhakti-yoga, contrasting negligent listeners with steadfast Śiva-yogins.

Significance: General tīrtha-logic: sincere devotion and right hearing purify; hypocritical/heedless hearing increases pāpa and invites daṇḍa (karmic and social censure).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It contrasts fruitless or sinful listening with transformative listening that culminates in steady devotion; true engagement with Śiva’s teaching should mature into constant bhakti and inner discipline, the marks of a Śiva-yogin.

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

By praising continual bhajana, it supports Saguna Śiva-upāsanā—regular worship of Śiva (including Liṅga worship) as a means to purify the pashu (bound soul) and orient the mind toward Pati (Śiva).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is nitya-bhajana: daily worship and remembrance—such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), along with simple Liṅga-pūjā—performed consistently with devotion.