Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 33

प्रणवविभागः—वेदस्वरूपत्वं लिङ्गे च प्रतिष्ठा

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

Devanagari script

अपारमपराधीनं निरस्तातिशयं स्थिरम् । इत्थमर्थैर्दशविधैरियमाथर्वणी श्रुतिः

Transliteration

apāramaparādhīnaṃ nirastātiśayaṃ sthiram | itthamarthairdaśavidhairiyamātharvaṇī śrutiḥ

Translation

So verkündet diese atharvanische Offenbarung durch zehn verschiedene Lehrsinngehalte Śiva als unendlich, von niemandem außer Sich selbst abhängig, unübertrefflich und ewig standhaft — Pati, den unveränderlichen Herrn, der die gebundene Seele aus der Fesselung befreit.

Word by Word

• अपारम्: limitless
• अपारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण

• अपर-अधीनम्: not dependent on another
• अपर-अधीनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक) + अधीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अपरस्य अधीनः = dependent on another), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• निरस्त-अतिशयम्: free from any excess/superiority (i.e., beyond comparison)
• निरस्त-अतिशयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरस्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + अतिशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अतिशयः निरस्तः यस्मिन्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• स्थिरम्: steady / immutable
• स्थिरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• इत्थम्: thus / in this manner
• इत्थम्: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इत्थम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• अर्थैः: by meanings / by senses
• अर्थैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• दश-विधैः: tenfold / of ten kinds
• दश-विधैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (दश विधाः), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण (अर्थैः इति)

• इयम्: this
• इयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• आथर्वणी: Atharvan-related (Atharva-vedic)
• आथर्वणी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आथर्वण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (श्रुतिः इति)

• श्रुतिः: revelation / śruti
• श्रुतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It affirms Śiva as the limitless, self-dependent, unsurpassed, and immutable Pati; contemplating this steadiness dissolves the soul’s fear and supports liberation from pāśa (bondage).

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

The Liṅga is revered as the stable, unsurpassed sign of the Infinite; worship of Saguna Śiva through the Liṅga leads the devotee toward realizing the same Śiva as apāra (limitless) and nirastātiśaya (without any superior).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva’s “sthira” (unchanging) nature while repeating the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya); let the mind rest in His independence (aparādhīnatva) as a contemplative antidote to dependence and bondage.