Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 14

अन्तराय-उपसर्ग-विवेचनम् / Analysis of Yogic Obstacles (Antarāyas) and Upasargas

Devanagari script

स्पर्शनाधिगमस्तद्वद्वेदना नाम विश्रुता । गन्धादीनां च दिव्यानामाब्रह्मभुवनाधिपाः

Transliteration

sparśanādhigamastadvadvedanā nāma viśrutā | gandhādīnāṃ ca divyānāmābrahmabhuvanādhipāḥ

Translation

Ebenso ist die Erkenntnis durch Berührung weithin als „vedanā“ (Empfindung) bekannt. Und die göttlichen Gegenstände, beginnend mit Duft und dergleichen, werden von allen Herrschern der Welten erfahren, bis hin zum Herrn der Sphäre Brahmās.

Word by Word

• स्पर्शन-अधिगमः: the cognition of touch
• स्पर्शन-अधिगमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्पर्शन (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—स्पर्शनस्य अधिगमः

• तद्वत्: likewise
• तद्वत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्वत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तुलनार्थक (comparative adverb)

• वेदना: sensation/feeling
• वेदना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• नाम: called
• नाम: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नामार्थक निपात (particle ‘called/indeed’)

• विश्रुता: well-known
• विश्रुता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्रुत (प्रातिपदिक; √श्रु धातु से)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (वेदना)

• गन्ध-आदीनाम्: of smell and the rest (etc.)
• गन्ध-आदीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—गन्धः आदिः येषाम् (गन्धादयः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Conjunction (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction ‘and’)

• दिव्यानाम्: divine
• दिव्यानाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन; विशेषण (गन्धादीनाम्)

• आ-ब्रह्म-भुवन-अधिपाः: lords up to Brahmā’s world
• आ-ब्रह्म-भुवन-अधिपाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ (अव्यय) + ब्रह्म (प्रातिपदिक) + भुवन (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—ब्रह्मभुवनस्य अधिपाः; ‘आ’ = मर्यादार्थक अव्यय (up to)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

It highlights that even exalted cosmic beings experience subtle, “divine” sense-objects; in Shaiva Siddhanta this underscores that sensory experience—gross or subtle—belongs to pasha (bondage), and liberation is attained by turning awareness to Pati (Shiva), who is beyond the senses.

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

Divine fragrances and other refined enjoyments can still bind the soul; Linga-worship trains the mind to rest in Shiva as the inner reality behind all experience, moving from attraction to sense-objects toward devotion to Saguna Shiva and finally steadiness in the transcendent.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice sense-restraint (indriya-nigraha) alongside japa of the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and offer pure fragrance (gandha) to the Linga as a reminder to redirect sensory impulses into devotion and inward contemplation.