Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 66

मङ्गलाचरणम्, तीर्थ-परिसरः, सूतागमनम् — Invocation, Sacred Setting, and the Arrival of Sūta

Devanagari script

नावेदविदुषे वाच्यमिदं शास्त्रमनुत्तमम् । न चैवाश्रद्धधानाय नापुराणविदे तथा

Transliteration

nāvedaviduṣe vācyamidaṃ śāstramanuttamam | na caivāśraddhadhānāya nāpurāṇavide tathā

Translation

此无上圣典不应对不知吠陀者宣说；亦不应对无信心者宣说；同样也不应对不通诸《往世书》（Purāṇa）者宣说。

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), niṣedha-nipāta (निषेध)

• aveda-viduṣe: to one ignorant of the Veda
• aveda-viduṣe: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/चतुर्थी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a- (नञ्) + veda (प्रातिपदिक) + vidvas (विद्वस् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Caturthī (चतुर्थी), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: avedaṃ veda iti? (negation) = 'one who does not know the Veda' (aveda-vidvas)

• vācyam: to be spoken; should be taught
• vācyam: Karya (कार्य/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta (कृदन्त), gerundive/obligatory participle (तव्यत्/यत् sense), Napuṃsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate: 'should be spoken'

• idam: this
• idam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (इदम् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Napuṃsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• śāstram: treatise; scripture
• śāstram: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāstra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• anuttamam: unsurpassed; excellent
• anuttamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anuttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; superlative sense 'unsurpassed' qualifying śāstram

• na: nor; not
• na: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, niṣedha-nipāta

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, samuccaya conjunction

• eva: indeed; just
• eva: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, avadhāraṇa-nipāta (emphasis particle)

• aśraddhadhānāya: to one who lacks faith
• aśraddhadhānāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/चतुर्थी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a- (नञ्) + śraddhā (प्रातिपदिक) + dhā (धा धातु) → śraddhadhāna (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Caturthī, Ekavacana; śraddhadhāna = present participle (शतृ) 'having faith'; with नञ्: 'without faith'

• na: nor
• na: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, niṣedha-nipāta

• apurāṇa-vide: to one ignorant of the Purāṇas
• apurāṇa-vide: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/चतुर्थी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a- (नञ्) + purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + vid (विद् धातु) → vid (विद्/विद्वान्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Caturthī, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: purāṇaṃ vetti iti purāṇavit; with नञ्: apurāṇavit = 'one who does not know the Purāṇa'

• tathā: likewise; similarly
• tathā: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, prakāra-avyaya (manner adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Veda
• Purana

FAQs

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

It teaches adhikāra (spiritual eligibility): the highest Shaiva teaching is to be transmitted to those grounded in śraddhā and scriptural understanding, so that the doctrine leads to purification, right devotion, and liberation rather than doubt or misuse.

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

Linga and Saguna-Shiva worship in the Purāṇa is not mere outer ritual; it requires faith and correct understanding supported by Veda–Purāṇa harmony. Without śraddhā and scriptural orientation, the symbols and rites lose their Shaiva Siddhanta intent of approaching Pati (Shiva) and loosening pāśa (bondage).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is disciplined śravaṇa (reverent listening) and adhyayana (study) with faith—approaching Shiva-kathā through a qualified teacher, supported by Vedic-Purāṇic understanding—before taking up deeper mantra, Linga-pūjā, or yoga instructions.