Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 39

शैवधर्मप्रशंसा तथा पञ्चविधसाधनविभागः / Praise of Śaiva Dharma and the Fivefold Classification of Practice

Devanagari script

निदानज्ञो यथा वैद्यो रोगस्य विनिवर्तकः । उपायैर्भेषजैस्तद्वल्लयभोगाधिकारतः

Transliteration

nidānajño yathā vaidyo rogasya vinivartakaḥ | upāyairbheṣajaistadvallayabhogādhikārataḥ

Translation

正如明了病因的医者以适当的方法与药方除去疾病，同样地，依各人对融入（laya）与对奉爱体验（bhoga）的资质不同，束缚亦由相应的灵修方便而得解除。

Word by Word

• निदानज्ञः: knower of diagnosis/causes
• निदानज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निदान-ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक; ज्ञा-धातुज कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (निदानस्य ज्ञः)

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानार्थक-सम्बन्धबोधक (comparative particle: 'as/just as')

• वैद्यः: a physician
• वैद्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• रोगस्य: of the disease
• रोगस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• विनिवर्तकः: remover (one who cures)
• विनिवर्तकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि-नि-वर्तक (प्रातिपदिक; वृत्/वर्त्-धातुज कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक-प्रत्ययान्त (agent noun: 'one who removes')

• उपायैः: by means/remedies
• उपायैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• भेषजैः: by medicines
• भेषजैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेषज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• तद्वत्: likewise
• तद्वत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/तुलना)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्वत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तुलनार्थक (comparative: 'likewise/in the same way')

• लयभोगाधिकारतः: with regard to/depending on the right to dissolution and enjoyment
• लयभोगाधिकारतः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: लय-भोग-अधिकार (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (अव्ययप्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पञ्चमी-अर्थे तसिल्/तस्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb: 'from/with respect to'); तत्पुरुषसमासः (लयस्य भोगः; भोगस्य अधिकारः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Interprets Śiva as the supreme guru-physician who prescribes upāyas suited to adhikāra; supports pilgrimage as a ‘treatment’ combining darśana, vrata, and sādhana.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that bondage is like a disease: when its cause is correctly known, Shiva’s path is applied as a precise remedy—chosen according to the seeker’s spiritual fitness—so that impurity and limitation are removed.

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

In the Shiva Purana, Saguna worship (such as Linga-puja) functions as an accessible, effective ‘medicine’ for most seekers, purifying the mind and preparing it for deeper absorption (laya) and ultimately realization of Shiva as Pati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse implies adopting the right upaya: for many, steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namah Shivaya) with Linga worship, Tripundra (bhasma), and Rudraksha—practiced consistently according to one’s capacity.