Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 39

भक्ताधिकारि-द्विजधर्म-योगिलक्षणवर्णनम् / Duties of Qualified Devotees and Marks of Yogins

Devanagari script

हस्तपादादिसाधर्म्याद्रुद्रान्मर्त्यवपुर्धरान् । प्राकृतानिव मन्वानो नावजानीत पंडितः

Transliteration

hastapādādisādharmyādrudrānmartyavapurdharān | prākṛtāniva manvāno nāvajānīta paṃḍitaḥ

Translation

由于具持凡身的鲁陀罗也具手足等共同形相，智者不可误以为他们只是世间凡夫，而对之轻慢蔑视。

Word by Word

• हस्तपादादि-साधर्म्यात्: from the similarity of hands, feet, etc.
• हस्तपादादि-साधर्म्यात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + साधर्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; समासः—हस्तपादादि (तत्पुरुष) + साधर्म्य (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: हस्तपादादीनां साधर्म्यम्)

• रुद्रात्: from Rudra
• रुद्रात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति (5th/अपादान), एकवचन

• मर्त्य-वपुः-धरान्: those bearing a mortal body
• मर्त्य-वपुः-धरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्त्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन; समासः—मर्त्यवपुः (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष: मर्त्यं वपुः) + धर (उपपद-तत्पुरुष: वपुः धरति)

• प्राकृतान्: ordinary, common
• प्राकृतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying मर्त्यवपुर्धरान्)

• इव: as if, like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• मन्वानः: thinking, considering
• मन्वानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमानकालिक कृदन्त (शानच्), परस्मैपद-धात्वर्थे आत्मनेपद-रूप; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; अर्थः—‘मानयन्/विचारयन्’ (thinking/considering)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अवजान्यात्: should despise
• अवजान्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; धातुः—ज्ञा; उपसर्गः—अव; अर्थः—‘अवज्ञां कुर्यात्’ (should despise)

• पण्डितः: a wise person
• पण्डितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पण्डित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches aparādha-bhaya (fear of spiritual offense): outer human likeness does not define inner divinity. A Shaiva seeker should honor Rudra-tattva wherever it manifests and avoid contempt, which becomes a binding pāśa (bond) obstructing grace (anugraha).

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

Just as the Liṅga is a visible, saguna support for realizing Shiva beyond form, Rudra-associated beings may also appear with ordinary bodies while carrying divine potency. The verse trains the devotee to see Shiva’s presence beyond superficial appearance and to maintain reverence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice humility and non-disrespect (anindā) as a daily vrata; mentally offer reverence with “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” when encountering Shaiva devotees/ascetics, and cultivate darśana-bhāva—seeing Shiva’s grace in those who may look ordinary.