Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 52

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

Devanagari script

अष्टाभिश्च त्रिभिश्चैवं द्वाभ्यां चैकेन वा पुनः । कालेनात्मगुणैश्चापि कृत्स्नमेव जगत्स्वयम्

Transliteration

aṣṭābhiśca tribhiścaivaṃ dvābhyāṃ caikena vā punaḥ | kālenātmaguṇaiścāpi kṛtsnameva jagatsvayam

Translation

Durch acht, durch drei, ebenso durch zwei, oder wiederum durch eins; und auch durch die Zeit und durch Seine eigenen innewohnenden Kräfte wird der Herr selbst aus eigenem Willen das ganze Universum in seiner Fülle.

Word by Word

• अष्टाभिः: by eight
• अष्टाभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक (numeral), तृतीया-विभक्ति (instrumental), बहुवचन; (सामान्यतः नपुंसक/पुं-प्रयोग)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• त्रिभिः: by three
• त्रिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): प्रकारवाचक (manner)

• द्वाभ्याम्: by two
• द्वाभ्याम्: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, तृतीया/सप्तमी-द्विवचन (instrumental/locative dual) — अत्र तृतीया (by two)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• एकेन: by one
• एकेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, तृतीया-विभक्ति (instrumental), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पबोधक अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• पुनः: again, further
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): पुनरावृत्तिवाचक (again)

• कालेन: by time
• कालेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आत्मगुणैः: by the qualities of the self
• आत्मगुणैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष समास: आत्मनः गुणाः; पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• अपि: also
• अपि: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (also/even)

• कृत्स्नम्: entire, whole
• कृत्स्नम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत्स्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic/only)

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्वयम्: by itself
• स्वयम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), आत्मार्थक (reflexive adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: emanational ordering of the cosmos via multiple enumerations (8/3/2/1)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva, the Pati (Supreme Lord), manifests the entire cosmos through ordered principles—unity and multiplicity—governed by Kāla and His śakti, while remaining the sovereign source beyond bondage.

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

The verse supports Saguna worship by affirming that the One Lord truly pervades and appears as the world; the Linga is revered as that same all-pervading Shiva made accessible for contemplation and devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as both the One and the many—japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady awareness of Kāla, offering the changing universe into the unchanging Lord.