Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 47

पशुपाशपतिज्ञान-प्राप्तिः

Acquisition of Paśupati–Pāśa Knowledge

Devanagari script

नैवायं चक्षुषा ग्राह्यो नापरैरिन्द्रियैरपि । मनसैव प्रदीप्तेन महानात्मावसीयते १

Transliteration

naivāyaṃ cakṣuṣā grāhyo nāparairindriyairapi | manasaiva pradīptena mahānātmāvasīyate 1

Translation

ذلك الذات العظمى السامية (الرب) لا تُدرَك بالعين، ولا حتى بسائر الحواس. إنما تُتيقَّن به وحده بالعقل المتّقد—المستنير بالتهذيب الباطني وبالبهكتي (التعبّد).

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, negation particle

• eva: indeed; at all
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, emphatic particle (अवधारण-निपात)

• ayam: this (one)
• ayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (प्रथमा), Eka-vacana

• cakṣuṣā: by the eye
• cakṣuṣā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakṣus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (Instrumental/तृतीया), Eka-vacana

• grāhyaḥ: perceivable; graspable
• grāhyaḥ: Karma-dharmī (कर्मधर्मी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: grah (धातु) + ya (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Kṛdanta: -ya (यत्) gerundive/भाव्य (potential passive participle); Masculine, Prathamā, Eka-vacana; ‘fit to be grasped/perceived’

• na: nor
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, negation particle

• aparaiḥ: by other
• aparaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Tṛtīyā (Instrumental), Bahu-vacana (Plural/बहुवचन); adjective qualifying indriyaiḥ

• indriyaiḥ: by the senses
• indriyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Tṛtīyā (Instrumental), Bahu-vacana

• api: even; also
• api: Sambandha-dyotaka (सम्बन्ध-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle (समुच्चय/अपि = ‘also/even’)

• manasā: by the mind
• manasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Tṛtīyā (Instrumental), Eka-vacana

• eva: alone
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, emphatic particle

• pradīptena: illumined; kindled
• pradīptena: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra√dīp (धातु) + ta (क्त)
• Form: Kṛdanta: past passive participle (क्त/PPP); Neuter, Tṛtīyā, Eka-vacana; agrees with manasā (instrument)

• mahān: great
• mahān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Prathamā, Eka-vacana; adjective qualifying ātmā

• ātmā: Self; supreme spirit
• ātmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Prathamā, Eka-vacana

• avasīyate: is ascertained; is realized
• avasīyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava√sā (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Ātmanepada, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Eka-vacana; passive/impersonal sense ‘is ascertained/known’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva as the Mahān Ātmā (Pati) cannot be known through ordinary sensory perception; true knowledge arises when the mind is purified and illumined through yoga, devotion, and right understanding.

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

Linga and Saguna worship provide a sacred support for concentration and devotion; through such worship the mind becomes “pradīpta” (luminous), enabling realization of the transcendent Śiva who is ultimately beyond form and the senses.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditative absorption supported by japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and steady dhyāna; these disciplines refine the mind so it can discern the reality of Śiva beyond sensory grasp.