Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 1

शिवतत्त्वे परापरभावविचारः

Inquiry into Śiva’s Principle and the Parā–Aparā Paradox

Devanagari script

ऋषय ऊचुः । चरितानि विचित्राणि गृह्याणि गहनानि च । दुर्विज्ञेयानि देवैश्च मोहयंति मनांसि नः

Transliteration

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | caritāni vicitrāṇi gṛhyāṇi gahanāni ca | durvijñeyāni devaiśca mohayaṃti manāṃsi naḥ

Translation

Die Weisen sprachen: „Diese wunderbaren Taten sind fein, tief und schwer zu erfassen. Selbst für die Götter sind sie schwer zu verstehen, und sie verwirren unseren Geist.“

Word by Word

• ऋषयः: sages
• ऋषयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• ऊचुः: said
• ऊचुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• चरितानि: deeds/episodes
• चरितानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरित (प्रातिपदिक; चर्-धातोः क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (deeds/acts)

• विचित्राणि: varied/wondrous
• विचित्राणि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन

• गृह्याणि: to be understood/accepted
• गृह्याणि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गृह्य (प्रातिपदिक; √ग्रह् + यत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive: to be grasped)

• गहनानि: deep/obscure
• गहनानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• दुर्विज्ञेयानि: hard to know
• दुर्विज्ञेयानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् + विज्ञेय (प्रातिपदिक; √ज्ञा + ण्यत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन; उपसर्ग/निपातपूर्वक-समासः (दुर्-); ण्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive)

• देवैः: by the gods
• देवैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन

• च: also/and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मोहयन्ति: bewilder
• मोहयन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुह् (धातु) (णिच्) → मोहय (धातु-प्रयोग)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

• मनांसि: minds
• मनांसि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन

• नः: our/to us
• नः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी (6/4), बहुवचन; एन्क्लिटिक सर्वनाम

Speaker

The sages (ṛṣis) at Naimiṣāraṇya

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Devas

FAQs

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

It affirms that Shiva’s līlā and the truths of Pati (Lord), paśu (soul), and pāśa (bondage) are subtle and not fully grasped by mere intellect; humility and receptivity to Shiva’s grace are essential.

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

When Shiva’s nature and acts feel “gahana” (profound), the tradition directs seekers to Saguna supports like the Śiva-liṅga, through which the mind becomes steady and the deeper, formless truth is approached.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with devotional contemplation, using simple supports like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) or rudrākṣa to stabilize attention and reduce mental bewilderment.