Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 4

शिवतत्त्वे परापरभावविचारः

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

Devanagari script

शिवः पुनर्न कस्यापि निग्रहानुग्रहास्पदम् । अतो ऽनायत्तमैश्वर्यं तस्यैवेति विनिश्चितम्

Transliteration

śivaḥ punarna kasyāpi nigrahānugrahāspadam | ato 'nāyattamaiśvaryaṃ tasyaiveti viniścitam

Translation

Śiva hingegen ist für niemanden ein Gegenstand von Zügelung oder Begünstigung. Darum ist endgültig entschieden: Die Souveränität (aiśvarya) gehört allein Ihm—unabhängig, an nichts anderes gebunden.

Word by Word

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• पुनः: again; moreover
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (Negative particle)

• कस्य: of whom/anyone
• कस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine/Generic), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• अपि: even; also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/समुच्चयार्थ (particle: even/also)

• निग्रह-अनुग्रह-आस्पदम्: a locus/seat of punishment and favor
• निग्रह-अनुग्रह-आस्पदम्: Karma (कर्म/Predicate complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निग्रह (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुग्रह (प्रातिपदिक) + आस्पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); समासः: द्वन्द्व (copulative) ‘निग्रह’+‘अनुग्रह’ ततः ‘आस्पद’ इति तत्पुरुषार्थ-सम्बन्धः (locus/seat)

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Reason marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ-क्रियाविशेषण (causal adverb: therefore/from this)

• अनायत्तम्: not dependent (on another)
• अनायत्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनायत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ऐश्वर्यम्: sovereignty; lordship
• ऐश्वर्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Predicate complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐश्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• तस्य: of him (Śiva)
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine/Generic), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• एव: indeed; only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यादि-उक्त्यर्थ (quotative particle)

• विनिश्चितम्: has been ascertained/decided
• विनिश्चितम्: Karma (कर्म/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-नि-√चि (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगार्थ (decided/ascertained)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes Shiva as Pati—the absolutely independent Lord—who cannot be compelled by any external force; His grace and governance arise from His own free sovereignty, guiding the bound soul (paśu) beyond bondage (pāśa).

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

Linga-worship is not a way to 'control' Shiva; it is a disciplined mode of approaching the independent Lord. The devotee offers worship to align with Shiva’s will and receive His self-bestowed grace, through the accessible saguna symbol of the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice surrender (śaraṇāgati) through japa of the Panchakshara—"Om Namaḥ Śivāya"—and Linga-upāsanā, remembering that results are not forced by ritual but received as Shiva’s independent anugraha (grace).