Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 14

षडध्ववेदनम् (Ṣaḍadhva-vedanam) — The Sixfold Path: Sound, Meaning, and Tattva-Distribution

Devanagari script

वर्णास्तु भुवनैर्व्याप्तास्तेषां तेषूपलंभनात् । भुवनान्यपि तत्त्वौघैरुत्पत्त्यांतर्बहिष्क्रमात्

Transliteration

varṇāstu bhuvanairvyāptāsteṣāṃ teṣūpalaṃbhanāt | bhuvanānyapi tattvaughairutpattyāṃtarbahiṣkramāt

Translation

إن أصناف الأصوات والحروف (varṇa) تسري في العوالم كلّها، لأنها تُدرَك في تلك العوالم ذاتها. والعوالم بدورها مشبعة بتيارات التَتْفَات (tattva) أي المبادئ الكونية، إذ عند الخلق تنبثق هذه المبادئ إلى الخارج وإلى الداخل، فتُظهر نظام الوجود الباطن والظاهر.

Word by Word

• varṇāḥ: phonemes
• varṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; contrast)

• bhuvanaiḥ: by worlds
• bhuvanaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhuvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• vyāptāḥ: pervaded
• vyāptāḥ: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण/participial predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √vyāp (धातु) + vyāpta (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Masculine/Neuter), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural), सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• teṣu: in them
• teṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Masculine/Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural), सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• upalambhanāt: from apprehension/realization
• upalambhanāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upalambhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular)

• bhuvanāni: worlds
• bhuvanāni: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhuvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-निपात (particle; also/even)

• tattva-oghaiḥ: by masses of principles
• tattva-oghaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tattva (प्रातिपदिक) + ogha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (tattvānām oghaḥ = flood/mass of principles)

• utpattyā: by arising/production
• utpattyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: utpatti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• antar-bahiḥ-kramāt: by the process of moving within and without
• antar-bahiḥ-kramāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: antar (अव्यय) + bahiḥ (अव्यय) + krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अन्तर्बहिः = within and without; ‘क्रमात्’ (ablatival adverb) = by the process/sequence

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: cosmic emanation (sṛṣṭi) described as inward-outward manifestation of tattvas

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that both sacred sound (varṇa) and the cosmic principles (tattvas) permeate all realms, indicating that bondage and liberation operate through an all-pervading divine order ultimately grounded in Shiva as Pati (the Lord).

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

Since the worlds are structured by tattvas and apprehended through sound, Saguna worship—mantra, nama-japa, and Linga-upasana—uses sanctified sound and form to purify tattvas and turn awareness inward toward Shiva’s presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Mantra-japa (especially Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with inward contemplation is implied: refine speech and mind (varṇa) and trace experience back through tattvas toward Shiva.