Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 64

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

Devanagari script

ज्ञानैश्वर्यादिवैषम्यं भजन्ते सोत्तराधराः । केचिन्मूर्त्यात्मतां यान्ति केचिदासन्नगोचराः

Transliteration

jñānaiśvaryādivaiṣamyaṃ bhajante sottarādharāḥ | kecinmūrtyātmatāṃ yānti kecidāsannagocarāḥ

Translation

إنّ الكائنات على مراتب عليا ودنيا تتفاوت في المعرفة والسلطان وما شابه ذلك. فمنهم من يبلغ أحوالًا متجسّدة ذات صفات (سَغونا)، ومنهم من لا يُنال إلا بإدراكٍ قريبٍ لطيف.

Word by Word

• ज्ञान-ऐश्वर्य-आदि-वैषम्यम्: inequality in knowledge, lordship, etc.
• ज्ञान-ऐश्वर्य-आदि-वैषम्यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + ऐश्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + वैषम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: (ज्ञान + ऐश्वर्य + आदि) इति समाहार-तत्पुरुष/द्वन्द्व-प्राय पूर्वपदसमूहः; तदनन्तरं तत्पुरुष: ‘ज्ञानैश्वर्यादीनां वैषम्यम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• भजन्ते: partake of, experience
• भजन्ते: क्रिया (Predicate verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• स-उत्तर-अधराः: those having higher and lower (grades)
• स-उत्तर-अधराः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + अधर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास: ‘येषां उत्तरं च अधरं च (स्तः)’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; used for beings with higher and lower (grades)

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (निपात)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; indefinite ‘some’

• मूर्ति-आत्मताम्: embodied state, corporeality
• मूर्ति-आत्मताम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘मूर्तेः आत्मता’ (embodied-ness); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यान्ति: go, attain
• यान्ति: क्रिया (Predicate verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (निपात)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• आसन्न-गोचराः: having a near sphere/range (near to perception)
• आसन्न-गोचराः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आसन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + गोचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: ‘आसन्नः गोचरः’ (near range/sphere); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; used adjectivally for ‘केचित्’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that due to differing measures of knowledge and divine capacity, beings progress unequally—some remain in embodied, form-based states, while others become knowable only through subtle, near (inner) realization, aligning with Shaiva Siddhanta’s graded liberation and purification.

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

By acknowledging ‘mūrti-ātmatā’ (embodied/form states), it validates saguna approaches—mūrti and Liṅga worship—for seekers whose realization proceeds through form, while also pointing toward subtler apprehension as purification deepens.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady upāsanā that refines perception: japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with dhyāna on the Liṅga, supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as aids to inner subtlety and disciplined yoga.