Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 21

शिवस्य परापरब्रह्मस्वरूपनिर्णयः / Determination of Śiva as Higher and Lower Brahman

Devanagari script

हेतुर्नेताधिपस्तेषां धाता चोक्ता महेश्वरः । विराड्ढिरण्यगर्भात्मा कैश्चिदीशो निगद्यते

Transliteration

heturnetādhipasteṣāṃ dhātā coktā maheśvaraḥ | virāḍḍhiraṇyagarbhātmā kaiścidīśo nigadyate

Translation

Mahādeva wird als Ursache, als Lenker und Herr über alles, ja als der Erhalter selbst (Dhātā) verkündet. Manche beschreiben den höchsten Herrn auch als das innewohnende Selbst von Virāṭ (kosmische Gestalt) und Hiraṇyagarbha (kosmisches Schöpferprinzip).

Word by Word

• hetuḥ: cause
• hetuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hetu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• netā: leader/guide
• netā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nētṛ (नेतृ) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक (agent noun)

• adhipaḥ: lord
• adhipaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद्) (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• dhātā: creator/sustainer (Dhātā)
• dhātā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhātṛ (धातृ) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• uktā: called/said (as)
• uktā: Karta (कर्ता/nominal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच्) (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अत्र ‘(सः) उक्तः’ इत्यर्थे पुल्लिङ्गे अपेक्षिते, छन्दसि/पाठभेदेण स्त्रीरूपप्रयोगः सम्भवः

• maheśvaraḥ: Maheśvara
• maheśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maheśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• virāṭ: Virāṭ
• virāṭ: Karta (कर्ता/nominal predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: virāṭ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• hiraṇyagarbha-ātmā: whose essence is Hiraṇyagarbha; Hiraṇyagarbha-souled
• hiraṇyagarbha-ātmā: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hiraṇyagarbha (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (आत्मन्) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘हिरण्यगर्भः आत्मा यस्य/यः’ (हिरण्यगर्भस्वरूपः)

• kaiścit: by some (people)
• kaiścit: Karta (कर्ता/agent of passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (किम्) (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; ‘केनचित्’ इत्यर्थे ‘some (people)’

• īśaḥ: Īśa (Lord)
• īśaḥ: Karma (कर्म/नामनिर्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• nigadyate: is called/declared
• nigadyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni + gad (गद्) (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Maheshvara
• Isha
• Virat
• Hiranyagarbha

FAQs

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

It establishes Shiva (Maheshvara) as Pati—the supreme Cause, inner guide, and sustainer—while cosmic principles like Virat and Hiranyagarbha are presented as dependent expressions within His lordship.

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

By affirming Shiva as the indwelling Lord of the cosmos, the verse supports Saguna worship (such as Linga-upasana) as a valid means to approach the transcendent Pati who pervades and governs all forms.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the inner ruler (Īśa) of all tattvas while repeating the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating the insight that all cosmic powers rest in Maheshvara.