Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 78

शिवशक्त्यैक्य-तत्त्वविचारः / Inquiry into the Unity of Śiva and Śakti

Para–Apara Ontology

Devanagari script

तां प्राप्तुं प्रयतंते ऽत्र जितश्वासा जितेंद्रियाः । गर्भकारा गृहद्वारं निश्छिद्रं घटितुं यथा

Transliteration

tāṃ prāptuṃ prayataṃte 'tra jitaśvāsā jiteṃdriyāḥ | garbhakārā gṛhadvāraṃ niśchidraṃ ghaṭituṃ yathā

Translation

Hier bemühen sich jene, die den Atem gemeistert und die Sinne bezwungen haben, Jenes zu erlangen—die höchste Wirklichkeit Śivas. Wie kundige Töpfer eine Haustür sorgfältig einpassen und versiegeln, sodass kein Spalt bleibt, so machen die Yogin ihren inneren Zugang fest und ununterbrochen, um Ihn zu erreichen.

Word by Word

• tām: her/that (vibhūti)
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन), demonstrative pronoun (सर्वनाम)

• prāptum: to attain
• prāptum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√āp (धातु)
• Form: Tumun infinitive (तुमुन्), 'to obtain/attain'

• prayatante: strive, make effort
• prayatante: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√yat (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• atra: here
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb of place (देशवाचक)

• jita-śvāsāḥ: having controlled the breath
• jita-śvāsāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jita (कृदन्त, √ji) + śvāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) 'jita-śvāsa' = 'whose breath is conquered/controlled'; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• jita-indriyāḥ: having controlled the senses
• jita-indriyāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jita (कृदन्त, √ji) + indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) 'jita-indriya' = 'whose senses are conquered'; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• garbha-kārāḥ: builders/artisans (makers of inner chambers)
• garbha-kārāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garbha (प्रातिपदिक) + kāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) 'garbha-kāra' = 'one who makes/forms the womb/inner chamber' (artisan); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• gṛha-dvāram: a house-door/doorway
• gṛha-dvāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक) + dvāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) 'gṛha-dvāra' = 'door of a house'; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• niśchidram: without holes, airtight
• niśchidram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niśchidra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ghaṭitum: to construct/fit together
• ghaṭitum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ghaṭ (धातु)
• Form: Tumun infinitive (तुमुन्) (Vedic/epic variant form), 'to fit/construct/assemble'

• yathā: as, just like
• yathā: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), comparative particle (उपमानवाचक)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that attaining Śiva (Pati) requires disciplined yoga: mastery of prāṇa and restraint of the senses, creating an unbroken, ‘gapless’ inner concentration that prevents the mind from leaking outward.

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

While external Linga-worship supports devotion and purity, the verse highlights the complementary inner worship—making awareness steady and sealed—so the devotee can realize Śiva beyond form (Nirguṇa) while still honoring Him in form (Saguṇa).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A meditative discipline centered on prāṇāyāma and pratyāhāra (withdrawing the senses), supported by japa such as the Pañcākṣarī ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya,’ aiming for uninterrupted dhyāna (continuous remembrance).