Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

स्वभाव एव पर्याप्तः परानुग्रहकर्मणि । अन्यथा निस्स्वभवेन न किमप्यनुगृह्यते

Transliteration

svabhāva eva paryāptaḥ parānugrahakarmaṇi | anyathā nissvabhavena na kimapyanugṛhyate

Translation

Die eigene Wesensnatur allein genügt für das Wirken der Gnade gegenüber anderen; andernfalls kann, wer dieser Natur entbehrt, wahrhaft keinerlei Wohltat gewähren.

Word by Word

• स्वभावः: one’s own nature
• स्वभावः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• एव: alone; indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (restrictive particle)

• पर्याप्तः: sufficient
• पर्याप्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि + आप् (धातु) → पर्याप्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘sufficient’

• परानुग्रहकर्मणि: in the act of favoring others
• परानुग्रहकर्मणि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर + अनुग्रह + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: ‘परानुग्रह’ + ‘कर्मन्’ तत्पुरुष; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (otherwise)

• निःस्वभावेन: by one devoid of nature (i.e., without inherent capacity)
• निःस्वभावेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निःस्वभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: ‘निः’ (without) + ‘स्वभाव’ तत्पुरुष; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

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

• किम्: anything
• किम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; ‘anything’

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; ‘even’

• अनुगृह्यते: is favored; is shown grace
• अनुगृह्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + √ग्रह् (ग्रहणे)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive), आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that real anugraha (grace) is not mere outward action but arises from one’s essential disposition; in Shaiva terms, authentic compassion and guidance flow when the heart is aligned with dharma and devotion to Shiva, not from pretended virtue.

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

Linga worship trains the devotee to internalize Shiva’s qualities—purity, steadiness, and benevolence—so that grace becomes natural (svabhāva). Without inner transformation, external worship can remain performative and fail to uplift others.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a discipline of bhasma (Tripundra) and rudraksha is implied as a way to purify character so that compassion and helpful action arise spontaneously as one’s svabhāva.