Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

अनुग्राह्यनपेक्षो ऽस्ति न हि कश्चिदनुग्रहः । अतः स्वातन्त्र्यशब्दार्थाननपेक्षत्वलक्षणः

Transliteration

anugrāhyanapekṣo 'sti na hi kaścidanugrahaḥ | ataḥ svātantryaśabdārthānanapekṣatvalakṣaṇaḥ

Translation

Er ist von keinem Empfänger abhängig, der begnadet werden müsste; denn in Wahrheit hängt kein Akt der Gnade von einem anderen ab. Darum bedeutet „svātantrya“ souveräne Freiheit, gekennzeichnet durch absolute Unabhängigkeit.

Word by Word

• अनुग्राह्य-अनपेक्षः: independent of (any) recipient of grace
• अनुग्राह्य-अनपेक्षः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुग्राह्य (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; अनु√ग्रह्) + अनपेक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘अनुग्राह्यस्य अनपेक्षः’ (independent of one to be favored)

• अस्ति: is
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• कश्चित्: anyone, someone
• कश्चित्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (निपात)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अनिश्चित-प्रत्यययुक्त (indefinite pronoun)

• अनुग्रहः: favor, grace
• अनुग्रहः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Hetu (हेतु/Reason)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतुवाचक-अव्यय (causal/conclusive indeclinable: ‘therefore/from this’)

• स्वातन्त्र्य-शब्द-अर्थ-अननपेक्षत्व-लक्षणः: characterized by non-dependence (the meaning of ‘independence’)
• स्वातन्त्र्य-शब्द-अर्थ-अननपेक्षत्व-लक्षणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वातन्त्र्य (प्रातिपदिक) + शब्द (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + अननपेक्षत्व (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समासः (determinative chain): ‘स्वातन्त्र्य-शब्दस्य अर्थः = अननपेक्षत्वम्; तस्य लक्षणः’ (having the characteristic of non-dependence which is the meaning of the word ‘svātantrya’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya philosophical teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines Shiva’s svātantrya—His absolute sovereignty—as complete non-dependence, teaching that liberation ultimately rests on the Lord’s independent grace rather than on any external compulsion.

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

Linga-worship frames devotion as turning toward the freely-gracious Lord; the verse reminds devotees that rituals and devotion dispose the soul toward Him, but Shiva’s bestowal of anugraha remains sovereign and unconditioned.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as svatantra (absolutely free) while repeating the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offering worship with humility—seeking grace without bargaining, and resting the mind in His independence.