Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

मूर्तात्मनो ऽप्यनुग्राह्या शिवाज्ञाननिवर्तनात् । अज्ञानाधिष्ठितं शम्भोर्न किंचिदिह विद्यते

Transliteration

mūrtātmano 'pyanugrāhyā śivājñānanivartanāt | ajñānādhiṣṭhitaṃ śambhorna kiṃcidiha vidyate

Translation

Selbst verkörperte Wesen sind geeignet, Gnade zu empfangen, denn Śivas wahres Wissen vertreibt die Unwissenheit. Für Śambhu (Śiva) ist in dieser Welt nichts auf Unwissenheit gegründet.

Word by Word

• मूर्तात्मनः: of the embodied self
• मूर्तात्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (मूर्तिः आत्मा यस्य/मूर्त्यात्मा)

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—निपात (particle: also/even)

• अनुग्राह्याः: are fit to receive grace
• अनुग्राह्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु + √ग्रह् (धातु) → अनुग्राह्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन; कृदन्तः—‘अनुग्रहयोग्य’

• शिव-अज्ञान-निवर्तनात्: because of the removal of ignorance by Śiva
• शिव-अज्ञान-निवर्तनात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + अज्ञान + निवर्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/हेतु), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य अज्ञानस्य निवर्तनम्)

• अज्ञान-अधिष्ठितम्: based on ignorance
• अज्ञान-अधिष्ठितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अज्ञान + अधिष्ठित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (अज्ञानेन अधिष्ठितम्); कृदन्तः—अधि + √स्था (क्त)

• शम्भोः: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—निषेध (negation particle)

• किंचित्: anything
• किंचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; अनिश्चितार्थक (indefinite)

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—देशवाचक (adverb of place: here)

• विद्यते: exists
• विद्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्; भावे—‘exists’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames embodied life (mūrta-ātman) as not disqualifying: even within saṃsāra, Śiva’s jñāna can remove ajñāna; thus temple-darśana and śravaṇa are meaningful as conduits for grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that liberation is possible even for embodied souls because Shiva’s saving knowledge dispels ajñāna; Shiva Himself is never conditioned by ignorance, so His grace can truly free the bound soul.

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

Worship of Saguna Shiva (such as the Shiva Linga) becomes a channel for anugraha: through devotion and right understanding, the devotee receives Shiva’s jñāna that removes ignorance, revealing Shiva as the ever-pure Pati beyond all limitation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate Shiva-jñāna through daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady dhyāna on Shiva’s purity; this aligns the soul for anugraha that destroys ajñāna.