Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 51

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

Devanagari script

न चानुग्रहशब्दार्थं गौणमाहुर्विपश्चितः । संसारमोचनं किं तु शैवमाज्ञामयं हितम्

Transliteration

na cānugrahaśabdārthaṃ gauṇamāhurvipaścitaḥ | saṃsāramocanaṃ kiṃ tu śaivamājñāmayaṃ hitam

Translation

Die Weisen halten das Wort „anugraha“ (Gnade) nicht für eine bloß nebensächliche Bedeutung. Wahrlich, es ist Śivas glückverheißender Befehl—heilsam und befreiend—durch den man aus dem saṃsāra erlöst wird.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• anugrahaśabdārtham: the meaning of the word ‘anugraha’
• anugrahaśabdārtham: Karma (कर्म) (object of āhuḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anugraha + śabda + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular; compound: (anugrahasya śabdasya arthaḥ) → ‘meaning of the word anugraha’ (multi-member tatpuruṣa)

• gauṇam: secondary/figurative
• gauṇam: Karma (कर्म) / Predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gauṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular; predicative complement with āhuḥ

• āhuḥ: they said/declare
• āhuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (अह् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada

• vipaścitaḥ: the wise
• vipaścitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipaścit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural; stem vipaścit, nom. pl. vipaścitaḥ

• saṃsāramocanam: liberation from worldly existence
• saṃsāramocanam: Visheshya (विशेष्य) / Predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃsāra + mocana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: ‘release from saṃsāra’

• kim: what?/indeed
• kim: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; interrogative used idiomatically

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle; contrast (‘but rather’)

• śaivam: Śaiva
• śaivam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; adjective used substantively (‘Śaiva [teaching/practice]’)

• ājñāmayam: consisting of (Śiva’s) injunction
• ājñāmayam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ājñā + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: ‘consisting of command/ordinance’

• hitam: beneficial
• hitam: Predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; predicate adjective

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s doctrine as taught in the Vāyavīya Saṃhitā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames liberation as Śiva’s efficacious ordinance (ājñā) rather than a figurative ‘favor’: encourages seekers to approach Śiva through śāstra, guru-upadeśa, and disciplined worship aimed at mokṣa.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines anugraha (Śiva’s grace) as the real liberating principle—Śiva’s beneficial ordinance that cuts bondage and leads the soul beyond saṃsāra.

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

Worship of the Liṅga and Saguna Śiva is a concrete way to align oneself with Śiva’s ājñā (divine command); through devotion and right practice, grace becomes the force that grants release.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Live in obedience to Śiva’s injunctions—regular japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and Shaiva disciplines like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa—so that anugraha matures into liberation.