Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 8

शिवस्य परापरब्रह्मस्वरूपनिर्णयः / Determination of Śiva as Higher and Lower Brahman

Devanagari script

यथार्थाकारसंवित्तिर्विद्येति परिकीर्त्यते । विकल्परहितं तत्त्वं परमित्यभिधीयते

Transliteration

yathārthākārasaṃvittirvidyeti parikīrtyate | vikalparahitaṃ tattvaṃ paramityabhidhīyate

Translation

Wahres Wissen (vidyā) wird als jene Erkenntnis verkündet, deren Gestalt der Wirklichkeit entspricht. Jene Wirklichkeit (tattva), frei von gedanklichen Konstruktionen und Alternativen (vikalpa), heißt das Höchste (Param) — das erhabenste zu Verwirklichende.

Word by Word

• यथार्थाकारसंवित्तिः: the cognition of the true form
• यथार्थाकारसंवित्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यथार्थ-आकार-संवित्ति (प्रातिपदिक; घटकाः: यथार्थ + आकार + संवित्ति)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• विद्या: knowledge
• विद्या: Pratipādya/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• परिकीर्त्यते: is proclaimed/called
• परिकीर्त्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• विकल्परहितम्: free from conceptual constructions
• विकल्परहितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विकल्प-रहित (प्रातिपदिक; घटकाः: विकल्प + रहित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम् (adjective)

• तत्त्वम्: reality/principle
• तत्त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Pratipādya/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम्

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• अभिधीयते: is designated/called
• अभिधीयते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-धा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines vidyā as reality-aligned awareness and points seekers toward the Param tattva—ultimate Shiva-principle—known not by speculation but by vikalpa-free realization, supporting liberation through right discernment.

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

Linga and saguna worship steady the mind and purify cognition so it becomes yathārtha; through such disciplined devotion, the seeker matures toward recognizing the vikalpa-rahita Supreme that the Linga ultimately signifies.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditation that reduces vikalpa—japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady dhyāna on Shiva/Linga—so awareness becomes clear and reality-conformant; supportive Shaiva disciplines like bhasma and rudrāksha may be used as aids to focus.