Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 9

शिवतत्त्वे परापरभावविचारः

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

Devanagari script

स्वभावो विपरीतश्चेत्स्वतंत्रः स्वेच्छया यदि । न करोति किमीशानो नित्यानित्यविपर्ययम्

Transliteration

svabhāvo viparītaścetsvataṃtraḥ svecchayā yadi | na karoti kimīśāno nityānityaviparyayam

Translation

Wenn die eigene Natur des Herrn widersprüchlich wäre und Er, völlig unabhängig, nur nach persönlicher Laune handelte, warum würde der höchste Īśāna dann nicht die Ordnung von Ewigem und Nicht-Ewigem umkehren?

Word by Word

• svabhāvaḥ: nature; inherent disposition
• svabhāvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svabhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• viparītaḥ: contrary; opposite
• viparītaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viparīta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) of svabhāvaḥ

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

• cet: if
• cet: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/condition marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: cet (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्त-अव्यय (conditional particle)

• svatantraḥ: independent
• svatantraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svatantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective) of svabhāvaḥ

• sva-icchayā: by (his/one's) own will
• sva-icchayā: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + icchā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine) icchā, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): 'by one's own will'

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/condition marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्त-अव्यय (conditional particle)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• karoti: does; makes
• karoti: Kriyā (क्रिया/finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• kim: what
• kim: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम (interrogative pronoun)

• īśānaḥ: the Lord (Īśāna)
• īśānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• nitya-anitya-viparyayam: the inversion/confusion of eternal and non-eternal
• nitya-anitya-viparyayam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक) + anitya (प्रातिपदिक) + viparyaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine) viparyaya, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; समाहार/निर्देश-तत्पुरुष: 'reversal regarding the eternal and non-eternal'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It argues that Shiva’s sovereignty is not arbitrary: His freedom operates through His consistent, auspicious nature, preserving the right order between the eternal (nitya) and the transient (anitya), which supports a dependable path to liberation.

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

Linga worship approaches Shiva as the stable ground of reality and dharma; this verse reinforces that the Lord is not capricious, so devotion to Saguna Shiva (as Ishana) and the Linga is trust in a steady, grace-bestowing Lord who maintains cosmic order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Steady japa of the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a disciplined, non-whimsical mind—optionally supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa—aligns the devotee with Shiva’s ordered, liberating grace.