Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

तैरेव सोत्तरैस्सिद्धो धर्मस्तु परमो मतः । परोक्षमपरोक्षं च ज्ञानं यत्र च मोक्षदम्

Transliteration

taireva sottaraissiddho dharmastu paramo mataḥ | parokṣamaparokṣaṃ ca jñānaṃ yatra ca mokṣadam

Translation

凭借这些教诲及其至高旨趣，最上之法（Dharma）得以确立。其中既有依经典而得的间接之智，也有亲证的直接之智——此智能赐予解脱（Moksha）。

Word by Word

• तैः: by those
• तैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम-रूप

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: सम्बन्ध/निपात
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• स-उत्तरैः: with (proper) answers
• स-उत्तरैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ) + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सहित-उत्तर = with answers); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• सिद्धः: established/proved
• सिद्धः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिध् (धातु) → सिद्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• धर्मः: dharma
• धर्मः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध/निपात
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrastive particle)

• परमः: supreme
• परमः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• मतः: considered/held (to be)
• मतः: विधेय-विशेषण (Predicative qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन् (धातु) → मत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘considered’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• परोक्षम्: indirect (knowledge)
• परोक्षम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• अपरोक्षम्: direct (knowledge)
• अपरोक्षम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपरोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/निपात
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा (subject)

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: अधिकरण (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (relative adverb: where)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/निपात
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• मोक्षदम्: granting liberation
• मोक्षदम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + द (दा/दद् धातु-प्रत्ययार्थ) → द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मोक्षं ददाति इति); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र ज्ञानस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Clarifies that both parokṣa (śāstra-based) and aparokṣa (realized) jñāna operate within the supreme dharma; pilgrimage/temple life supports parokṣa→aparokṣa transition but no specific kṣetra is named.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Moksha
• Dharma

FAQs

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

It declares that the supreme Dharma culminates in liberating knowledge—first understood indirectly through scripture (parokṣa), then realized directly in experience (aparokṣa)—leading the soul toward Shiva-granted Moksha.

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

In Shaiva teaching, Saguna worship (such as Linga devotion, mantra, and puja) stabilizes dharma and purifies the devotee, preparing the mind so scriptural understanding matures into direct realization of Shiva as Pati (the Lord) who grants liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady Shiva-upasana—japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with disciplined conduct—so paroksha knowledge from texts becomes aparoksha insight through meditation and grace.