Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 56

प्रणवविभागः—वेदस्वरूपत्वं लिङ्गे च प्रतिष्ठा

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

Devanagari script

ततः परतरं धाम धामवंतं च पूरुषम् । निरुत्तरतरं ब्रह्म निष्कलं शिवमीश्वरम्

Transliteration

tataḥ parataraṃ dhāma dhāmavaṃtaṃ ca pūruṣam | niruttarataraṃ brahma niṣkalaṃ śivamīśvaram

Translation

Jenseits alles noch Höheren ist die Höchste Wohnstatt und die Person, die jenen Glanz besitzt—Śiva, der Herr: das unübertreffliche Brahman, teil- und spaltungslos (niṣkala).

Word by Word

• ततः: thereafter/from that
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादान/क्रमार्थक (from that/thereafter)

• परतरम्: higher/superior
• परतरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; तुलनात्मक-तर (comparative) विशेषणम् (धाम इत्यस्य)

• धाम: abode/splendour
• धाम: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म) एकवचन

• धाम-वन्तम्: endowed with splendour
• धाम-वन्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धामन् + वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; ‘धामवत्’ (possessing splendour) इति वत्-प्रत्ययान्त; विशेषणम् (पूरुषम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (and)

• पूरुषम्: the Person (Puruṣa)
• पूरुषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म) एकवचन

• निरुत्तरतरम्: still more unsurpassed
• निरुत्तरतरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरुत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; तुलनात्मक-तर (comparative) विशेषणम् (ब्रह्म इत्यस्य)

• ब्रह्म: Brahman/Absolute
• ब्रह्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म) एकवचन

• निष्कलम्: partless/without divisions
• निष्कलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निष्कल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; विशेषणम् (ब्रह्म/ईश्वरम् सन्दर्भे)

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; विशेष्य-नाम

• ईश्वरम्: the Lord
• ईश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; शिवस्य विशेषण-रूपेण अपि

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: This is a metaphysical culmination: niṣkala Śiva as the unsurpassed Brahman and supreme dhāma; it is not tied to a particular jyotirliṅga locale.

Significance: Contemplation of niṣkala Śiva (beyond parts/attributes) is held to mature bhakti into jñāna and orient worship from sakala-arcana to para-tattva realization.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares Shiva as the ultimate Reality beyond all gradations—both the supreme dhāma (highest state/abode) and the transcendent Lord (Pati) who is unsurpassed Brahman, indicating liberation through realizing Shiva as niṣkala (indivisible).

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

The verse points to niṣkala Shiva (formless, partless) as the highest truth, while Linga and other saguna forms serve as accessible supports for devotion and contemplation that lead the seeker toward that transcendent realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the unsurpassed Brahman using japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and inward dhyāna on the niṣkala, partless Lord, letting the mind rest in the supreme dhāma.