Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 14

पञ्चकृत्यलक्षणनिर्णयः

Definition of Śiva’s Five Cosmic Acts—Pañcakṛtya

Devanagari script

मद्ध्यानविरहाद्वत्सौ मौढ्यं वामेवमागतम् । मज्ज्ञाने सति नैवं स्यान्मानं रूपे महेशवत्

Transliteration

maddhyānavirahādvatsau mauḍhyaṃ vāmevamāgatam | majjñāne sati naivaṃ syānmānaṃ rūpe maheśavat

Translation

噢，亲爱的孩子们，由于你们离开了对我的禅观（dhyāna），这迷妄才在你们心中生起。若真实知我之智在，则不应对形相生此傲慢，仿佛自己就是大自在天（Maheshvara）。

Word by Word

• mat: of me/my
• mat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); enclitic form used in compound-context

• dhyāna-virahāt: from the absence of meditation
• dhyāna-virahāt: Apadana (अपादान/Ablative-cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhyāna + viraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: dhyānasya virahaḥ

• vatsau: O dear children
• vatsau: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vatsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Dual (द्विवचन)

• mauḍhyam: delusion/foolishness
• mauḍhyam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mauḍhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• vā: or/indeed
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), disjunctive particle (विकल्पार्थक निपात)

• evam: thus
• evam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• āgatam: has come/has arisen
• āgatam: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-gam (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृत्), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with mauḍhyam

• mat-jñāne: in my knowledge
• mat-jñāne: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mat + jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: mama jñānam

• sati: when (it) exists/being present
• sati: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative absolute)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ/कृत्), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); used in locative absolute (सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध) with mat-jñāne

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), negation particle (निषेध)

• evam: thus
• evam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• syāt: would be
• syāt: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• mānam: pride/ego
• mānam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• rūpe: in form/appearance
• rūpe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• maheśa-vat: like Maheśa
• maheśa-vat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: maheśa (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (तद्धित)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), comparative suffix -vat (वत्) forming adverbial simile

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Maheshvara), instructing devotees/seekers

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that separation from Shiva-dhyana leads to moha (delusion) and ahamkara (pride). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, steady remembrance and knowledge of Pati (Shiva) loosen the bonds of pasha—especially ignorance and ego—making the seeker fit for Shiva’s grace.

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

Linga-worship and Saguna Shiva upasana are practical supports for continuous Shiva-dhyana. By fixing the mind on Shiva’s presence through the Linga, the devotee avoids mistaking external form, status, or appearance as the Self, and instead grows in true Shiva-knowledge.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to restore regular Shiva-dhyana—daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with focused meditation on Shiva, ideally supported by simple Linga-puja (water/abhisheka) and a discipline that reduces ego-driven pride.