Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 19

कौशिकी-गौरी तथा शार्दूलरूप-निशाचरस्य पूर्वकर्मवर्णनम् | Kauśikī-Gaurī and Brahmā’s account of the tiger-formed niśācara

Devanagari script

व्यत्यासो ऽपि भवेत्सद्यो ब्रह्मत्वस्थावरत्वयोः । सुकृतं दुष्कृतं चापि त्वयेव स्थापितं यतः

Transliteration

vyatyāso 'pi bhavetsadyo brahmatvasthāvaratvayoḥ | sukṛtaṃ duṣkṛtaṃ cāpi tvayeva sthāpitaṃ yataḥ

Translation

Sogar ein augenblicklicher Umschlag zwischen dem Zustand des Brahmā-Seins und der Lage eines unbeweglichen Wesens kann eintreten—denn wahrlich bist du es, der Verdienst und Schuld (samt ihren Früchten) eingesetzt hat.

Word by Word

• व्यत्यासः: reversal; interchange
• व्यत्यासः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यत्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अपि: even; also
• अपि: Avadhāraṇa/Samuccaya (अवधारण/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: even/also)

• भवेत्: would occur; may become
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• सद्यः: immediately
• सद्यः: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सद्यः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: immediately)

• ब्रह्मत्वस्थावरत्वयोः: of/in brahmahood and immobility
• ब्रह्मत्वस्थावरत्वयोः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मत्व + स्थावरत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व), षष्ठी/सप्तमी-विभक्ति (6th/7th Gen/Loc), द्विवचन (Dual); अर्थः: ‘of/in brahmahood and immobility’

• सुकृतम्: merit; good deed
• सुकृतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• दुष्कृतम्: demerit; evil deed
• दुष्कृतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुष्कृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: also)

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana (करण/Instrument-Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: एकवचन, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental); लिङ्ग-निर्देशः न (pronoun)

• एव: indeed; alone
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphasis)

• स्थापितम्: established; set in place
• स्थापितम्: Kriya (क्रिया; participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था + नि (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि-भावः: ‘placed/established’

• यतः: because
• यतः: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतः (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतु-वाचक-अव्यय (causal indeclinable: because/since)

Speaker

A devotee/sage addressing Lord Shiva (Pati) within the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā’s philosophical discourse

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It highlights Shiva as Pati—the supreme Lord who governs the moral order of karma. Because merit and demerit are established under His sovereignty, worldly status can swiftly change, urging the seeker to rely on Shiva for liberation rather than on transient rank or power.

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

Linga-worship centers the mind on Shiva as the inner ruler of all destinies. By honoring Saguna Shiva in the Linga, the devotee acknowledges that the fruits of sukrita and dushkrita are under His dispensation and seeks His grace to move beyond bondage (pāśa).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a karma-purifying intention, combined with simple Linga-abhiṣeka and offering of bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) as a reminder to transcend pride in high status and fear of downfall.