Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 63

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

Devanagari script

आत्मतायाः समत्वे ऽपि बद्धा मुक्ताः परे यतः । बद्धेष्वेव पुनः केचिल्लयभोगाधिकारतः

Transliteration

ātmatāyāḥ samatve 'pi baddhā muktāḥ pare yataḥ | baddheṣveva punaḥ kecillayabhogādhikārataḥ

Translation

Obwohl das wesentliche Wesen des Selbst (ātman) gleich ist, besteht doch ein Unterschied zwischen Gebundenen und Befreiten—weil der Höchste (Herr Śiva) es so verordnet. Und selbst unter den gebundenen Seelen haben einige Anspruch auf Auflösung (laya, Eingehung) und auf Genuss, je nach ihrer Berechtigung.

Word by Word

• आत्मतायाः: of selfhood/identity
• आत्मतायाः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Genitive singular

• समत्वे: in equality/equanimity
• समत्वे: अधिकरण (Location/condition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular

• अपि: even though
• अपि: निपातार्थ (Concessive particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (concessive ‘even though’)

• बद्धाः: the bound (souls)
• बद्धाः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बद्ध (प्रातिपदिक; √बन्ध् + क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; used substantively ‘the bound ones’

• मुक्ताः: the liberated (souls)
• मुक्ताः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्त (प्रातिपदिक; √मुच् + क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; used substantively ‘the liberated ones’

• परे: different, distinct
• परे: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; predicate adjective for ‘बद्धाः मुक्ताः’

• यतः: because
• यतः: हेतु (Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक (causal adverb ‘because/wherefrom’)

• बद्धेषु: among the bound (souls)
• बद्धेषु: अधिकरण (Location/domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बद्ध (प्रातिपदिक; √बन्ध् + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Locative plural

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: अवधारण (Restriction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात (restrictive particle)

• पुनः: again, further
• पुनः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति/पुनरावृत्ति-बोधक (adverb ‘again/further’)

• केचित्: some (of them)
• केचित्: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (निपात)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; indefinite pronoun ‘some’

• लय-भोग-अधिकारतः: due to entitlement to dissolution and enjoyment
• लय-भोग-अधिकारतः: हेतु (Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: लय (प्रातिपदिक) + भोग (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिकार (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास: लयः च भोगः; तत्पुरुष-सम्बन्धेन ‘लयभोगयोः अधिकारः’; तस्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb: ‘on account of’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that while the soul’s essence is one, bondage and liberation are real states governed by Pati (Śiva), and that spiritual progress depends on one’s adhikāra—maturity shaped by karma, grace, and disciplines leading toward laya and finally moksha.

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

By affirming Śiva as the Supreme ordainer, it supports Saguna worship (Liṅga-upāsanā) as a grace-bearing means: devotion and ritual to the Liṅga purify the bound soul’s eligibility (adhikāra) so it can transcend mere bhoga and move toward absorption and liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to cultivate adhikāra through Śiva-upāsanā—japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), dhyāna on Śiva, and purificatory observances such as Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and Rudrākṣa—so karma-bhoga is exhausted and the mind becomes fit for laya.