Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 12

शिवस्य परापरब्रह्मस्वरूपनिर्णयः / Determination of Śiva as Higher and Lower Brahman

Devanagari script

समष्टिव्यष्ठिरूपं च समष्टिव्यष्टिकारणम् । वदंति मुनयः केचिच्छिवं परमकारणम्

Transliteration

samaṣṭivyaṣṭhirūpaṃ ca samaṣṭivyaṣṭikāraṇam | vadaṃti munayaḥ kecicchivaṃ paramakāraṇam

Translation

Einige Weise verkünden, Śiva sei sowohl die Gestalt der Gesamtheit als auch die des Einzelnen und zudem die Ursache beider — des kosmischen Ganzen wie der besonderen Wesen; so ist Śiva allein die höchste Ursache.

Word by Word

• समष्टिव्यष्टिरूपम्: the form as totality and individuality
• समष्टिव्यष्टिरूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समष्टि + व्यष्टि + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (समष्टि-व्यष्ट्योः रूपम् = form as aggregate and individual); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

• समष्टिव्यष्टिकारणम्: the cause of totality and individuality
• समष्टिव्यष्टिकारणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समष्टि + व्यष्टि + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (समष्टि-व्यष्ट्योः कारणम् = cause of aggregate and individual); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वदन्ति: say
• वदन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• केचित्: some (of them)
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; अनिश्चितार्थ (some)

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

• परमकारणम्: the supreme cause
• परमकारणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयः (परमं कारणम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes Śiva as Pati—the highest reality—who pervades both the cosmic order (samaṣṭi) and each embodied soul (vyaṣṭi), and who alone is the ultimate source and support leading the soul toward mokṣa.

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

Because Śiva is taught as the cause and indweller of both the universal and the individual, the Liṅga becomes a fitting Saguna focus for worship—an accessible symbol through which the devotee approaches the transcendent supreme cause.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as present in the whole and in oneself while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), integrating inner japa with outward Śiva-pūjā to recognize Him as the supreme cause.