Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 43

Praṇava-Māhātmya and the Twofold Mantra (Sūkṣma–Sthūla) in Śaiva Sādhanā

Devanagari script

वरयेच्च सपत्नीकाञ्छैवान्वै ब्राह्मणोत्तमान् । एकं गुरुवरं शिष्टं वरयेत्सांबमूर्तिकम्

Transliteration

varayecca sapatnīkāñchaivānvai brāhmaṇottamān | ekaṃ guruvaraṃ śiṣṭaṃ varayetsāṃbamūrtikam

Translation

当延请最上之湿婆派婆罗门，并偕其妻同来。尤当特请一位卓越而守礼有范之上师——具现湿婆与优摩合一之萨姆巴（Sāmba）圣相者。

Word by Word

• वरयेत्: should choose
• वरयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; causative sense in usage ‘to choose/select’

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

• सपत्नीकाान्: together with their wives
• सपत्नीकाान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-पत्नी-क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषण; समासः—पत्नी सहितः (with wife) तत्पुरुष

• शैवान्: Shaiva (devoted to Shiva)
• शैवान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• ब्राह्मणोत्तमान्: excellent Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणोत्तमान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण-उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—ब्राह्मणेषु उत्तमाः (best among Brahmins) तत्पुरुष

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक-विशेषण

• गुरुवरम्: an excellent guru
• गुरुवरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु-वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—गुरुः एव वरः (a guru who is excellent) कर्मधारय

• शिष्टम्: cultured, learned
• शिष्टम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (cultured/learned)

• वरयेत्: should choose
• वरयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• साम्बमूर्तिकम्: having the form with Umā (Sāmbamūrti)
• साम्बमूर्तिकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-अम्ब-मूर्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—अम्बया (उमया) सहितः मूर्तिः यस्य (having a form together with Ambā/Umā) बहुव्रीहि

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-worship procedures to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Highlights the social-sacramental dimension of Śaiva worship: honoring Śaiva brāhmaṇas and an ācārya functions as ‘guru-sevā’, a key conduit for grace and correct ritual transmission.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva-worship is completed through honoring Śiva’s devotees and an authentic guru—seeing them as living vessels of Śiva’s grace, especially in the Sāmba vision where Śiva is never separated from Śakti.

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

The verse supports Saguna upāsanā by emphasizing proper ritual support: inviting Śaiva brāhmaṇas and a qualified guru who embodies Sāmba (Śiva with Umā), aligning the worshipper’s outer pūjā with the living tradition behind Linga-worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical injunction: invite Śaiva brāhmaṇas (with their wives) and especially a disciplined Shaiva guru, then perform worship and hospitality as part of the pūjā framework—strengthening devotion (bhakti) and right conduct (ācāra).