Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 87

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

Devanagari script

स्वाभाविको मलः पुंसां स हि संसारयत्यमून् । संसारकारणं यत्तु मलं मायाद्यचेतनम्

Transliteration

svābhāviko malaḥ puṃsāṃ sa hi saṃsārayatyamūn | saṃsārakāraṇaṃ yattu malaṃ māyādyacetanam

Translation

Die angeborene Unreinheit (mala) der verkörperten Wesen ist es wahrlich, die sie durch den saṃsāra treibt. Diese Unreinheit—von Natur unbewusst und beginnend mit Māyā—ist die eigentliche Ursache des saṃsāra.

Word by Word

• svābhāvikaḥ: natural; inherent
• svābhāvikaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svābhāvika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying malaḥ)

• malaḥ: impurity; taint
• malaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• puṃsām: of men; of beings
• puṃsām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pumān (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• saḥ: he/it (that)
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक निपात (indeed/for)

• saṃsārayati: causes to transmigrate
• saṃsārayati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃsṛ (धातु) [णिच् causative]
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative): 'संसारे प्रवर्तयति' (causes to transmigrate)

• amūn: those (persons)
• amūn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन

• saṃsāra-kāraṇam: cause of transmigration
• saṃsāra-kāraṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃsāra (प्रातिपदिक) + kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (saṃsārasya kāraṇam = cause of transmigration)

• yat: which
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण/विरोधार्थक (but/indeed)

• malam: impurity
• malam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (predicate nominative/apposition to saṃsāra-kāraṇam)

• māyā-ādi: beginning with māyā, etc.
• māyā-ādi: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: māyā (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत्-प्रयोग/समासान्त-विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (māyā ādi yasya = beginning with māyā)

• acetanam: insentient; non-conscious
• acetanam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: acetana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying malam)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shaiva philosophical teaching as preserved in the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

FAQs

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

It identifies the root of bondage as mala—an innate, insentient impurity connected with Māyā—which keeps the soul (paśu) revolving in saṁsāra until it is purified by Shiva’s grace and right knowledge.

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

Linga/Saguna Shiva worship is presented as a practical means to loosen Māyā-born bondage: devotion, purification, and surrender to Pati (Shiva) prepare the soul for the removal of mala and the dawning of liberating insight.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is purification-oriented practice—japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), worship of the Shiva-Linga, and internal contemplation on Shiva as Pati who alone can cut the pasha of mala and Māyā.