Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 52

शिवतत्त्वे परापरभावविचारः

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

Devanagari script

अनादिकर्म वैचित्र्यमपि नात्र नियामकम् । कारणं खलु कर्मापि भवेदीश्वरकारितम्

Transliteration

anādikarma vaicitryamapi nātra niyāmakam | kāraṇaṃ khalu karmāpi bhavedīśvarakāritam

Translation

Selbst die Vielfalt anfangslosen Karmas ist hier für sich genommen nicht der letzte Lenker. Denn auch Karma wird nur insofern zur Ursache, als es vom Herrn (Īśvara) in Gang gesetzt und beherrscht wird.

Word by Word

• अनादि: beginningless
• अनादि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनादि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग; प्रातिपदिक-रूप; समासपूर्वपद; (meaning: beginningless)

• कर्म: action/karma
• कर्म: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन; (here as compound-member with अनादि)

• वैचित्र्यम्: variety/diversity
• वैचित्र्यम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैचित्र्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (also/even)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात (negation)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb: here)

• नियामकम्: the regulator/controlling factor
• नियामकम्: Pradhana (प्रधान/Predicate complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियामक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

• कारणम्: the cause
• कारणम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन

• खलु: indeed
• खलु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: khalu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (indeed/surely)

• कर्म: karma/action
• कर्म: Karta (कर्ता/Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• भवेत्: would be / should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd); एकवचन; परस्मैपद; √भू (to be)

• ईश्वरकारितम्: caused by the Lord
• ईश्वरकारितम्: Pradhana (प्रधान/Predicate qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईश्वर-कारित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (ईश्वरेण कारितम् = caused by the Lord); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Clarifies that karma’s governance is subordinate to Īśvara; encourages reliance on Śiva beyond fatalism and mere karmic determinism.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that karmic variety may be beginningless, yet it is not the supreme determinant; Shiva as Īśvara remains the higher governor, and liberation ultimately depends on His regulating grace rather than karma alone.

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

Linga-worship embodies approaching Īśvara as the conscious Lord who rules over pasha (bondage) and karma; devotion to Saguna Shiva aligns the soul with the divine regulator rather than treating karma as an independent absolute.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice Ishvara-pranidhana through Panchakshara japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with Tripundra and Rudraksha as aids, cultivating surrender to Shiva’s governance so karma becomes purified and non-binding.