Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 18

प्रणवविभागः—वेदस्वरूपत्वं लिङ्गे च प्रतिष्ठा

The Division of Oṃ, Its Vedic Forms, and Its Placement in the Liṅga

Devanagari script

ततो महेश्वरं साक्षान्मूर्तिष्वपि सदाशिवम् । क्रियासु निष्क्रियस्यापि शिवस्य परमात्मनः

Transliteration

tato maheśvaraṃ sākṣānmūrtiṣvapi sadāśivam | kriyāsu niṣkriyasyāpi śivasya paramātmanaḥ

Translation

Dann (erkennt man) Maheśvara unmittelbar—Sadāśiva, der selbst in verkörperten Gestalten gegenwärtig ist—das höchste Selbst, Śiva, der, obgleich in Handlungen wirkend, doch immer handlungslos (transzendent) bleibt.

Word by Word

• ततः: then / thereafter
• ततः: सम्बन्ध (Adverbial/sequence marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रयोग (from there/then)

• महेश्वरम्: Mahēśvara
• महेश्वरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: महा + ईश्वर (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष)

• साक्षात्: directly / in person
• साक्षात्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (directly/manifestly)

• मूर्तिषु: in (all) forms
• मूर्तिषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन

• अपि: also / even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (also/even)

• सदाशिवम्: Sadāśiva
• सदाशिवम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; apposition to महेश्वरम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सदाशिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास: सदा शिवः (ever-auspicious)

• क्रियासु: in actions
• क्रियासु: अधिकरण (Locative domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन

• निष्क्रियस्य: of the actionless
• निष्क्रियस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निष्क्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; शिवस्य इति विशेषण

• अपि: even though
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (even/though)

• शिवस्य: of Śiva
• शिवस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• परमात्मनः: of the Supreme Self
• परमात्मनः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive apposition to शिवस्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: परमः आत्मा

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sadashiva
• Maheshvara

FAQs

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

It teaches that the seeker can attain direct realization of Maheśvara: the same Śiva who appears with form (for devotion and worship) is, in truth, the actionless Supreme Self who transcends all karma and change.

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

Linga and other sacred forms are supports for saguna-upāsanā; through such worship one recognizes Sadāśiva within all forms, and finally understands that Śiva remains niṣkriya—untouched by actions—even while governing all activity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Shiva-pūjā with steadiness (japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and dhyāna on Śiva as the inner Self), while cultivating the insight that the Lord is beyond doership—helping detach from ego and karma.