Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 18

शक्त्यादिसृष्टिनिरूपणम् / The Account of Creation Beginning with Śakti

Devanagari script

आत्मन्यवस्थिते ऽव्यक्ते विकारे प्रतिसंहृते । साधर्म्येणाधितिष्ठेते प्रधानपुरुषावुभौ

Transliteration

ātmanyavasthite 'vyakte vikāre pratisaṃhṛte | sādharmyeṇādhitiṣṭhete pradhānapuruṣāvubhau

Translation

إذا استقرّ غير المتجلّي في الآتمن، وانطوت جميع التحوّلات، فحينئذٍ—بحكم التشابه الظاهر—يبقى كلٌّ من البرادهانا (الطبيعة الأولى) والبوروشا (مبدأ الوعي الفردي) كأنهما قائمان هناك، مُثبَتين في تلك الحال.

Word by Word

• आत्मनि: in the Self
• आत्मनि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अवस्थिते: when established
• अवस्थिते: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव-स्था (धातु) → अवस्थित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (अव्यक्ते)

• अव्यक्ते: in the unmanifest
• अव्यक्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अव्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विकारे: in/with transformation
• विकारे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रतिसंहृते: when withdrawn/absorbed
• प्रतिसंहृते: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रति-सम्-हृ (धातु) → प्रतिसंहृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (विकारे)

• साधर्म्येण: by similarity/identity of nature
• साधर्म्येण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधर्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन

• अधितिष्ठेते: they preside/abide over
• अधितिष्ठेते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि-स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; आत्मनेपद

• प्रधान-पुरुषौ: Pradhāna and Puruṣa
• प्रधान-पुरुषौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रधान (प्रातिपदिक) + पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः

• उभौ: both
• उभौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; विशेषण (प्रधानपुरुषौ)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya philosophical teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: post-pralaya latency: tattvas remain in seed-like poise within avyakta

FAQs

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

It points to inner dissolution (pratisaṃhāra) of mental and cosmic modifications, where consciousness rests in the Self and the manifesting powers are stilled—an essential yogic marker of liberation-oriented insight in Shaiva philosophy.

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

Linga-worship leads the mind from form to the formless: devotion to Saguna Shiva steadies awareness, and through contemplation the seeker turns inward until modifications subside and the unmanifest ground is intuited.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditative withdrawal (pratyāhāra and dhyāna) is implied—quieting vikāras through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady inner absorption, supported by Shaiva disciplines like bhasma and rudrāksha when practiced with right intent.