Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 57

Kṣetra–Kāla–Phala-kramaḥ

Hierarchy of Sacred Place, Time, and Ritual Fruit

Devanagari script

वाचिकं यजनं विद्यान्मंत्रस्तोत्रजपादिकम् । तीर्थयात्राव्रताद्यं हि कायिकं यजनं विदुः

Transliteration

vācikaṃ yajanaṃ vidyānmaṃtrastotrajapādikam | tīrthayātrāvratādyaṃ hi kāyikaṃ yajanaṃ viduḥ

Translation

Hãy biết rằng lễ bái bằng lời (vācika) là tụng niệm thần chú, tán tụng thánh ca, japa và những việc tương tự. Hành hương đến các tīrtha, giữ các lời nguyện (vrata) và kỷ luật tương tự được hiểu là lễ bái bằng thân (kāyika).

Word by Word

• वाचिकम्: verbal
• वाचिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाचिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of 'yajanam'

• यजनम्: worship / sacrifice
• यजनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (Singular)

• विद्यात्: one should know
• विद्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विध्यर्थ), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• मन्त्रस्तोत्रजपादिकम्: consisting of mantra, hymn, japa, etc.
• मन्त्रस्तोत्रजपादिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्त्र + स्तोत्र + जप + आदि (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); '...आदिक' = ending with etc.; विशेषण of 'yajanam'

• तीर्थयात्राव्रताद्यम्: (including) pilgrimage, vows, etc.
• तीर्थयात्राव्रताद्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीर्थ + यात्रा + व्रत + आदि (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of 'yajanam'

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), emphasis/indeed

• कायिकम्: bodily / physical
• कायिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कायिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of 'yajanam'

• यजनम्: worship / sacrifice
• यजनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (Singular)

• विदुः: they know / the wise know
• विदुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames tīrtha-yātrā and vrata as legitimate kāyika-yajana; supports pilgrimage as a purificatory auxiliary (upakāraka) to Śiva-bhakti and dharma.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse classifies Shiva-worship into inner discipline expressed through speech (mantra, stotra, japa) and outer discipline expressed through the body (pilgrimage and vows), showing that both purify the devotee and support progress toward Shiva’s grace and liberation.

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

In Linga/Saguna Shiva worship, verbal offerings like chanting the Panchakshara and singing stotras function as vācika yajña, while physically going to Shiva-kṣetras and observing vratas are kāyika yajña—together forming a complete devotional regimen around the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular mantra-japa (especially Shiva mantras) and stotra-recitation are recommended as verbal worship, supported by bodily disciplines such as Shiva-vratas and tīrtha-yātrā to Shiva temples; these can be integrated into Mahashivratri observance.