Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 33

शिवसंस्कार-दीक्षानिरूपणम् (Śivasaṃskāra and the Typology of Dīkṣā)

Devanagari script

श्रेयोर्थी चेन्नरो धीमान्न मिथ्याचारमाचरेत् । गुरोर्हितं प्रियं कुर्यादादिष्टो वा न वा सदा

Transliteration

śreyorthī cennaro dhīmānna mithyācāramācaret | gurorhitaṃ priyaṃ kuryādādiṣṭo vā na vā sadā

Translation

若智者求至上之善，便不应行虚伪与矫饰之举。应恒常行作对上师（Guru）有益且令其欢喜之事——无论是否明令吩咐。

Word by Word

• श्रेयः: the good/welfare
• श्रेयः: Samāsa-aṅga (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग in श्रेयोर्थी

• अर्थी: desirous of welfare
• अर्थी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) (of नरः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; समासः—श्रेयः + अर्थी (desirous of welfare)

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्त-अव्यय (conditional particle)

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता) (of आचरेत्/कुर्यात्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• धीमान्: wise
• धीमान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; विशेषण of नरः

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

• मिथ्याचारम्: false conduct
• मिथ्याचारम्: Karma (कर्म) (of आचरेत्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मिथ्याचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; समासः—मिथ्या + आचारः (false conduct)

• आचरेत्: should practice
• आचरेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• गुरोः: of the guru
• गुरोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन

• हितम्: benefit
• हितम्: Karma (कर्म) (of कुर्यात्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• प्रियम्: pleasing/dear
• प्रियम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषण of हितम् (or second object)

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• आदिष्टः: (even if) instructed
• आदिष्टः: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-दिś् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; ‘having been instructed/ordered’ (agreeing with नरः)

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

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

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that liberation-oriented life (śreyas) in Shaiva Siddhanta depends on inner sincerity and disciplined conduct, not outward pretense; serving the Guru’s welfare aligns the seeker with Shiva’s grace (anugraha).

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

Linga-worship is meant to purify the heart; this verse warns that ritual without integrity becomes mere display. True devotion to Saguna Shiva expresses itself as truthful living and reverent Guru-seva, which makes worship effective.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is daily Guru-seva with ethical restraint—supporting the teacher’s dharmic aims—alongside sincere japa (e.g., the Panchakshara) and disciplined observances, avoiding performative religiosity.