Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 13

शिवतत्त्वे परापरभावविचारः

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

Devanagari script

न हि स्वेच्छाशरीरत्वं स्वातंत्र्यायोपपद्यते । स्वेच्छैव तादृशी पुंसां यस्मात्कर्मानुसारिणी

Transliteration

na hi svecchāśarīratvaṃ svātaṃtryāyopapadyate | svecchaiva tādṛśī puṃsāṃ yasmātkarmānusāriṇī

Translation

Wahrlich, einen Körper zu besitzen, der nur nach eigenem Wunsch gestaltet ist, bedeutet noch keine wahre Unabhängigkeit. Denn der „Wille“ verkörperter Wesen ist gerade deshalb so, weil er dem Lauf ihres Karma folgt.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Hetu-bodhaka (हेतुबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic/explanatory particle (निपात)

• sva-icchā-śarīratvam: being embodied by one’s own will
• sva-icchā-śarīratvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva + icchā + śarīratva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष ‘having a body (made) of one’s own will’ (स्वेच्छया शरीरत्वम्/स्वेच्छाशरीरत्वम्)

• svātaṃtryāya: for independence
• svātaṃtryāya: Sampradāna/Purpose (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svātantrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• upapadyate: is appropriate/possible
• upapadyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-pad (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• sva-icchā: one’s own will
• sva-icchā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva + icchā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष ‘one’s own will’

• eva: indeed/alone
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण-निपात)

• tādṛśī: such (of that kind)
• tādṛśī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tādṛś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• puṃsām: of persons/men
• puṃsām: Sambandha/Śeṣa (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pumān (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• yasmāt: because
• yasmāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Relative causal form ‘because’ (यस्-प्रयोगः, पञ्चमी-अर्थे)

• karma-anusāriṇī: following (one’s) actions/karma
• karma-anusāriṇī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karma + anusārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष ‘following karma’ (कर्मानुसारिणी)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that the bound soul (paśu) is not truly free: even its sense of ‘choice’ is shaped by karmic bondage (pāśa). True freedom arises only through Shiva’s grace and liberation from karma.

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

Linga/Saguna Shiva worship is presented as a means to purify karma and loosen bondage; as karmic impressions weaken through devotion and discipline, the will becomes aligned with Shiva (Pati), moving toward genuine spiritual freedom.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is regular japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with Shaiva disciplines such as Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha, undertaken to reduce karmic conditioning and steady the mind in Shiva.