Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 47

पशु-पाश-पतिविचारः / Inquiry into Paśu, Pāśa, and Pati

Devanagari script

ते वै गुह्योपणिषदि गूढं ब्रह्म परात्परम् । ब्रह्मयोनिं जगत्पूर्वं विदुर्देवा महर्षयः

Transliteration

te vai guhyopaṇiṣadi gūḍhaṃ brahma parātparam | brahmayoniṃ jagatpūrvaṃ vidurdevā maharṣayaḥ

Translation

Wahrlich, die Götter und die großen Ṛṣi erkannten — durch jene geheime upaniṣadische Unterweisung — den höchsten Brahman, dem gewöhnlichen Blick verborgen, selbst das Höchste überragend; den Ursprung Brahmās und die uranfängliche Ursache vor dem Universum.

Word by Word

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) emphasizing assertion

• guhya-upaṇiṣadi: in the secret Upaniṣad
• guhya-upaṇiṣadi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guhya (प्रातिपदिक) + upaṇiṣad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; कर्मधारयः—‘गुह्या उपनिषद्’ (the secret Upaniṣad)

• gūḍham: hidden
• gūḍham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gūḍha (प्रातिपदिक; √guh/गुह् as past participle sense)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; विशेषण of ‘brahma’

• brahma: Brahman
• brahma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• parāt-param: supreme beyond the beyond
• parāt-param: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parāt (अव्यय/तसिल्-प्रयोग from para) + para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘परात्’ = Ablative sense ‘beyond’; ‘परम्’ adjective qualifying ‘brahma’

• brahma-yonim: the source (yoni) of Brahman
• brahma-yonim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + yoni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘ब्रह्मणः योनिः’ (source/womb of Brahman / Brahman as source)

• jagat-pūrvam: prior to the world
• jagat-pūrvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक) + pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुषः—‘जगतः पूर्वम्’ (prior to the world) used adjectivally for Brahman

• viduḥ: knew / have known
• viduḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: Perfect tense (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural

• devāḥ: the gods
• devāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; apposition to ‘te’

• maharṣayaḥ: the great sages
• maharṣayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maharṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; apposition to ‘te’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: pre-cosmic causality implied (jagatpūrva)

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Maharishis
• Brahman
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It declares that the Highest Reality is not grasped by ordinary means but is realized through secret, inner wisdom; in Shaiva terms, this points to knowing Pati (the Supreme Lord) as transcendent and the ultimate cause behind creation and liberation.

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

Though the verse speaks of the hidden, transcendent Brahman, Shaiva practice approaches that same Supreme through accessible supports like the Śiva-liṅga and mantra—Saguna worship leading the devotee toward realization of the Nirguna, parātpara truth.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is contemplative Upāsanā: meditate on Śiva as the jagat-kāraṇa (cause of the universe) and repeat the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with inward inquiry, using devotion as a doorway to the hidden Supreme.