Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 18

अनुग्रह-स्वातन्त्र्य-प्रमाणविचारः | Inquiry into Pramāṇa, Divine Autonomy, and Grace

Devanagari script

यथानुगृह्यते सो ऽपि मूर्त्यात्मा पारमेष्ठिना । तथा मूर्त्यात्मनिष्ठेन शिवेन पशवो वयम्

Transliteration

yathānugṛhyate so 'pi mūrtyātmā pārameṣṭhinā | tathā mūrtyātmaniṣṭhena śivena paśavo vayam

Translation

Wie jener verkörperte ist vom Parameṣṭhin (Brahmā) mit Gnade bedacht, so werden auch wir—bloße paśus, gebundene Seelen—von Śiva begnadet, der fest in der verkörperten Erscheinung (saguṇa) gegründet ist.

Word by Word

• यथा: as / in the manner that
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक/उपमानार्थक (correlative adverb: as)

• अनुगृह्यते: is shown favor / is blessed
• अनुगृह्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-√ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अपि: also / even
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-निपात (also/even)

• मूर्ति-आत्मा: the embodied self
• मूर्ति-आत्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (मूर्तिः आत्मा यस्य/मूर्तिरूप आत्मा)

• पारमेष्ठिना: by the Supreme Lord (Brahmā)
• पारमेष्ठिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पारमेष्ठिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; ब्रह्म-वाचक (epithet of Brahmā)

• तथा: so / likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तदनुरूपार्थक (so/likewise)

• मूर्ति-आत्म-निष्ठेन: by Śiva who is established in embodied form
• मूर्ति-आत्म-निष्ठेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + निष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मूर्त्यात्मनि निष्ठा यस्य)

• शिवेन: by Śiva
• शिवेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पशवः: creatures / bound souls
• पशवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; त्रिलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It highlights anugraha (Śiva’s saving grace): as cosmic governance comes through Brahmā, liberation for bound souls (paśus) comes through Śiva, the supreme Pati who removes bondage (pāśa).

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

By emphasizing Śiva “established in mūrti,” it supports saguna upāsanā—approaching the transcendent through accessible manifestation, such as the Śiva-liṅga, through which grace becomes operative for the paśu.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt saguna-focused devotion: liṅga-pūjā with the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), cultivating humility as a paśu seeking Śiva’s anugraha.