Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 81

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

Para–Apara Ontology

Devanagari script

एतत्ते कथितं कृष्ण याथात्म्यं परमात्मनोः । रहस्यमपि योग्यो ऽसि भर्गभक्तो भवानिति

Transliteration

etatte kathitaṃ kṛṣṇa yāthātmyaṃ paramātmanoḥ | rahasyamapi yogyo 'si bhargabhakto bhavāniti

Translation

O Kṛṣṇa, so habe ich dir die wahre Natur des höchsten Selbst dargelegt. Du bist sogar dieses geheime Lehrwort zu empfangen würdig, denn du bist ein Bhakta Bhargas (Śiva).

Word by Word

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (here: object ‘this’)

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (here: dative ‘to you’)

• कथितम्: told; narrated
• कथितम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकालिक (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कृष्ण: O Krishna
• कृष्ण: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Vocative)

• याथात्म्यम्: true nature; reality
• याथात्म्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याथात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परमात्मनोः: of the two Supreme Selves
• परमात्मनोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (परमः आत्मा); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Genitive dual)

• रहस्यम्: secret; mystery
• रहस्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रहस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अपि: also; even
• अपि: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपेक्षार्थक निपात (also/even)

• योग्यः: fit; qualified
• योग्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: योग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• असि: you are
• असि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भर्गभक्तः: a devotee of Bharga (Shiva)
• भर्गभक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्ग + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (भर्गस्य भक्तः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भवान्: you (honored)
• भवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (honorific 2nd person pronoun)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्यसमाप्ति/उद्धरणसूचक

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya teaching as part of the Shiva Purana discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Emphasizes adhikāra (qualification) for receiving rahasya-jñāna of the Paramātman; devotion to Bharga is presented as the marker of eligibility.

Mantra Metadata

Type: gayatri

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Krishna

FAQs

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

It teaches that the highest truth about the Paramātman is an esoteric (rahasya) doctrine and is given only to an adhikārī—one purified and made eligible through sincere devotion to Śiva (Bharga) and inner discipline.

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

By praising Śiva-bhakti as the qualification for secret knowledge, the verse supports the Shiva Purana’s path where reverent worship of Saguna Śiva—often through the Liṅga—matures the seeker toward realizing the Supreme reality (Paramātman) beyond limited conceptions.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is adhikāra through Śiva-bhakti: steady japa of Shiva’s mantra (especially the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), along with yogic discipline and purity, making one fit to receive deeper teachings.