Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 59

अनुग्रह-स्वातन्त्र्य-प्रमाणविचारः | Inquiry into Pramāṇa, Divine Autonomy, and Grace

Devanagari script

स्वभावविमलो यद्वत्सर्वानुग्राहकश्शिवः । स्वभावमलिनास्तद्वदात्मनो जीवसंज्ञिताः

Transliteration

svabhāvavimalo yadvatsarvānugrāhakaśśivaḥ | svabhāvamalināstadvadātmano jīvasaṃjñitāḥ

Translation

كما أن شيفا بطبيعته منزَّه عن الدنس وواهِبُ النعمة للكون كلّه، كذلك فإن الذوات المسمّاة «جيفا» (jīva) ملوَّثة بطبيعتها؛ ولذا فهي محتاجة إلى رحمته المُحرِّرة.

Word by Word

• स्वभावविमलः: pure by nature
• स्वभावविमलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वभाव + विमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; शिवः इति विशेष्यस्य; कर्मधारय—‘स्वभावेन विमलः’

• यद्वत्: just as
• यद्वत्: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद्वत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक (comparative particle)

• सर्वानुग्राहकः: benefactor of all
• सर्वानुग्राहकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + अनुग्राहक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; शिवः इति विशेष्यस्य; ‘सर्वेषाम् अनुग्राहकः’

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• स्वभावमलिनाः: impure by nature
• स्वभावमलिनाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वभाव + मलिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; जीवसंज्ञिताः इति विशेष्यस्य; कर्मधारय—‘स्वभावेन मलिनाः’

• तद्वत्: likewise
• तद्वत्: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्वत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तुल्यवाचक (comparative particle)

• आत्मनः: of the self
• आत्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• जीवसंज्ञिताः: called ‘jīvas’
• जीवसंज्ञिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जीव + संज्ञित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘जीव’ इति नाम्ना संज्ञिताः (called ‘jīva’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Jiva (individual soul)

FAQs

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

It distinguishes Pati (Śiva) as inherently pure and gracious, and the jīva as inherently bound by impurity; liberation is therefore grounded in Śiva’s anugraha (saving grace), a key Shaiva Siddhanta theme.

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

Linga/Saguna worship is a concrete means for the impurified jīva to approach the ever-pure Śiva; through devotion, mantra, and ritual, the devotee becomes fit to receive Śiva’s grace that removes bondage.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with bhakti and surrender, seeking Śiva’s anugraha to purify the soul and loosen the bonds (pāśa).