Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 60

आवरणपूजाविधानम् / The Procedure of Āvaraṇa (Enclosure) Worship

Devanagari script

असुरा राक्षसाश्चैव तमोगुणसमन्विताः । ऐहिकार्थं यजन्तीशं नराश्चान्ये ऽपि तादृशाः

Transliteration

asurā rākṣasāścaiva tamoguṇasamanvitāḥ | aihikārthaṃ yajantīśaṃ narāścānye 'pi tādṛśāḥ

Translation

具足昏暗之性（tamas）的阿修罗与罗刹，为了世间利益而礼拜大自在主（Īśa）；其他同样性情的人，也以同一目的而敬拜祂。

Word by Word

• असुराः: asuras
• असुराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• राक्षसाः: rākṣasas
• राक्षसाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic: “indeed/only”)

• तमस्-गुण-समन्विताः: endowed with tamas
• तमस्-गुण-समन्विताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + समन्वित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—“तमोगुणेन समन्विताः” (endowed with the quality of tamas)

• ऐहिक-अर्थम्: worldly benefit
• ऐहिक-अर्थम्: Karma (कर्म/goal-object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐहिक (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—“ऐहिकः अर्थः” (worldly aim)

• यजन्ति: worship/sacrifice to
• यजन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• ईशम्: the Lord (Īśa)
• ईशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नराः: men/people
• नराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनामसदृश-विशेषण/नाम (others)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (particle: “also/even”)

• तादृशाः: such (of that kind)
• तादृशाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तादृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (such/like those)

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 distinguishes motive-based worship: tamas-bound beings approach Shiva for immediate worldly gain, while higher Shaiva practice aims at purification, grace (anugraha), and liberation.

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

Even Saguna worship of Shiva (including Linga worship) can be performed with different intentions—either for aihika (worldly) results or as a means to inner transformation leading toward Shiva’s grace and moksha.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied takeaway is to refine intention: perform Shiva worship with mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara), and support it with purificatory observances like bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and disciplined devotion rather than desire alone.