Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 54

ध्यानप्रकारनिर्णयः / Determination of the Modes of Meditation

on Śrīkaṇṭha-Śiva

Devanagari script

शिवनिन्दारतं हंतुमशक्तो यः स्वयं मृतः । सद्य एव प्रमुच्येत त्रिः सप्तकुलसंयुतः

Transliteration

śivanindārataṃ haṃtumaśakto yaḥ svayaṃ mṛtaḥ | sadya eva pramucyeta triḥ saptakulasaṃyutaḥ

Translation

若有人虽不能诛灭那沉溺于诋毁湿婆者，却在此举中自身殒命，则其人当即得解脱；并且与他同在的，家族三组七代亦得解脱。

Word by Word

• शिवनिन्दारतम्: one devoted to slandering Śiva
• शिवनिन्दारतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of हन्तुम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिवनिन्दारत (प्रातिपदिक; शिव + निन्दा + रत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying an implied person)

• हन्तुम्: to kill
• हन्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive), क्रियार्थक

• अशक्तः: unable
• अशक्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; with यः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (emphatic adverb)

• मृतः: dead
• मृतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृत (कृदन्त; √मृ)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सद्यः: immediately
• सद्यः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सद्यः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Nipata (निपात/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• प्रमुच्येत: would be released
• प्रमुच्येत: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + मुच् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-भाव (passive sense)

• त्रिः: three times / threefold
• त्रिः: Parimana (परिमाण/Measure)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रिः (अव्यय)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-अव्यय (numeral adverb)

• सप्तकुलसंयुतः: connected with seven families (i.e., with seven generations)
• सप्तकुलसंयुतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्तकुलसंयुत (प्रातिपदिक; सप्त + कुल + संयुत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (of the subject)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It proclaims the extraordinary salvific power associated with Śiva—so strong that even an enemy who dies while attempting to oppose a Śiva-blasphemer is said to be freed, illustrating Śiva’s role as Pati who can sever pasha (bondage) and grant release beyond ordinary karmic calculation.

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

By condemning Śiva-nindā (reviling Śiva), the verse implicitly upholds reverence toward Saguna Śiva—worshipped as the Liṅga and as the compassionate Lord—where respect and devotion align the soul (paśu) toward grace rather than further entanglement.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to avoid Śiva-nindā and cultivate Śiva-bhakti—daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” along with simple Śiva-upacāra such as vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and respectful Liṅga-pūjā, as safeguards against spiritual bondage.