Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 74

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

Devanagari script

तत्तत्तत्त्वाधिपामेव मूर्तिं स्थूलां विचिंतयेत् । सदाशिवांता ब्रह्माद्यभवाद्याश्चाष्टमूर्तयः

Transliteration

tattattattvādhipāmeva mūrtiṃ sthūlāṃ viciṃtayet | sadāśivāṃtā brahmādyabhavādyāścāṣṭamūrtayaḥ

Translation

Man soll eben jene grobe (saguṇa) Gestalt betrachten, die über jedes tattva herrscht. Dies sind die acht offenbaren Formen—beginnend mit Sadāśiva bis hin zu Brahmā, und auch beginnend mit Bhava—durch die der Herr in leibhaftiger Manifestation geschaut wird.

Word by Word

• तत्-तत्-तत्त्व-अधिपाम्: the presiding deity of each such principle
• तत्-तत्-तत्त्व-अधिपाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + तत् + तत्त्व + अधिपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्म; तत्पुरुष ("तत् तत् तत्त्वस्य अधिपा" = presiding deity of each principle)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (indeed/only)

• मूर्तिम्: form
• मूर्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• स्थूलाम्: gross/physical
• स्थूलाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying मूर्तिम्)

• विचिन्तयेत्: should contemplate
• विचिन्तयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + √चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; विध्यर्थ (should)

• सदाशिव-अन्ताः: ending with Sadāśiva
• सदाशिव-अन्ताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदा-शिव-अन्त (प्रातिपदिक; सदाशिव + अन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि ("सदाशिवः अन्तः येषाम्" = ending with Sadāśiva)

• ब्रह्म-आदि-अभव-आद्याः: beginning with Brahmā, beginning with Abhava, etc.
• ब्रह्म-आदि-अभव-आद्याः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्म + आदि + अभव + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुष ("ब्रह्मादयः" तथा "अभवादयः" इत्यादि-समूह)

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

• अष्टमूर्तयः: the eight forms
• अष्टमूर्तयः: Karta/Predicate nominative (कर्ता/प्रथमा-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट-मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक; अष्टन् + मूर्ति)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास (numerical compound)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Sadashiva
• Brahma
• Bhava
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches tattva-based dhyāna: the seeker contemplates the Lord as the presiding reality behind every principle of existence, moving from concrete (sthūla) manifestation toward deeper recognition of Śiva as Pati, the inner governor of all tattvas.

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

By recommending meditation on a ‘gross’ form, it supports saguṇa-upāsanā—such as worship of the Śiva-liṅga—where the formless Lord is approached through a sacred, perceptible embodiment that anchors concentration and devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice dhyāna by fixing the mind on Śiva as the tattva-presiding form (adhipati) and mentally tracing His manifestations (aṣṭamūrti). This can be paired with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and liṅga-darśana as a steady support for contemplation.