Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 7

शिवस्य परापरब्रह्मस्वरूपनिर्णयः / Determination of Śiva as Higher and Lower Brahman

Devanagari script

भ्रांतिर्विद्या परा चेति शार्वं रूपं परं विदुः । अयथाबुद्धिरर्थेषु बहुधा भ्रांतिरुच्यते

Transliteration

bhrāṃtirvidyā parā ceti śārvaṃ rūpaṃ paraṃ viduḥ | ayathābuddhirartheṣu bahudhā bhrāṃtirucyate

Translation

Sie erkennen die höchste śaivische Wirklichkeit als von der Natur: (i) Verblendung/Trug (bhrānti), (ii) Wissen (vidyā) und (iii) des Transzendenten (parā). Wenn das Verständnis der Dinge ihrer wahren Wesenheit widerspricht, heißt diese verkehrte Erkenntnis „bhrānti“, in ihren vielen Gestalten.

Word by Word

• भ्रान्तिः: delusion/illusion
• भ्रान्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrānti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• विद्या: knowledge
• विद्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• परा: supreme
• परा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; विद्याया विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरणार्थक

• शार्वम्: Śaiva (belonging to Śarva/Śiva)
• शार्वम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śārva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; रूपम् इति विशेषणम् (Śiva-related)

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; रूपम् इति विशेषणम्

• विदुः: they know/consider
• विदुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid (विद्—धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• अयथाबुद्धिः: wrong understanding
• अयथाबुद्धिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a + yathā + buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अयथा बुद्धिः = यथानुरूपा न बुद्धिः), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• अर्थेषु: in objects/meanings
• अर्थेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), बहुवचन

• बहुधा: in many ways
• बहुधा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bahudhā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/परिमाणवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: ‘in many ways’)

• भ्रान्तिः: delusion
• भ्रान्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrānti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• उच्यते: is called/said
• उच्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच्—धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse distinguishes right knowledge (vidyā) from mistaken cognition (bhrānti) and points to the Transcendent (parā) Śiva as the supreme Reality; liberation arises when delusion about things is removed and true understanding dawns.

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

Linga-worship trains the mind to move from superficial, mistaken notions (bhrānti) toward purified insight (vidyā), ultimately leading the devotee from saguna contemplation to recognition of Śiva as the parā (transcendent) principle beyond misapprehension.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice steady japa of the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with contemplative inquiry—repeatedly correcting ‘ayathā-buddhi’ (wrong notions) into ‘yathārtha-jñāna’ (true seeing)—supported by simple Śaiva disciplines like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and inner dhyāna on Śiva.