Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 5

शिवतत्त्वे परापरभावविचारः

Inquiry into Śiva’s Principle and the Parā–Aparā Paradox

Devanagari script

यद्येवमीदृशैश्वर्यं तत्तु स्वातन्त्र्यलक्षणम् । स्वभावसिद्धं चैतस्य मूर्तिमत्तास्पदं भवेत्

Transliteration

yadyevamīdṛśaiśvaryaṃ tattu svātantryalakṣaṇam | svabhāvasiddhaṃ caitasya mūrtimattāspadaṃ bhavet

Translation

If such lordly power (aiśvarya) is indeed so, then it is characterized by absolute freedom (svātantrya). And since it is innate—established by His very nature—it becomes the very ground that makes His taking form (mūrtimattā) possible.

Word by Word

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Condition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तार्थ (conditional particle: if)

• एवम्: thus; in this manner
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारार्थ (adverb: thus/in this way)

• ईदृश-ऐश्वर्यम्: such sovereignty
• ईदृश-ऐश्वर्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Topic under discussion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईदृश (प्रातिपदिक) + ऐश्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारय (descriptive): ‘ईदृशम् ऐश्वर्यम्’

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject of nominal sentence)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन

• तु: but; indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Contrast)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषण (particle: but/indeed)

• स्वातन्त्र्य-लक्षणम्: having independence as its mark
• स्वातन्त्र्य-लक्षणम्: Karma (कर्म/Predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वातन्त्र्य (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘स्वातन्त्र्यस्य लक्षणम्’

• स्वभाव-सिद्धम्: naturally established
• स्वभाव-सिद्धम्: Karma (कर्म/Predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वभाव (प्रातिपदिक) + सिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘स्वभावेन सिद्धम्’ (naturally established)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction: and)

• एतस्य: of this (one)
• एतस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Generic), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• मूर्तिमत्ता-आस्पदम्: a basis/seat for embodiment
• मूर्तिमत्ता-आस्पदम्: Karma (कर्म/Predicate complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्तिमत्ता (प्रातिपदिक) + आस्पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘मूर्तिमत्तायाः आस्पदम्’ (seat/ground of embodiment)

• भवेत्: would be; may become
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya philosophical teaching to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva’s supreme lordship is not dependent on anything else; His absolute freedom (svātantrya) is intrinsic, and from that freedom His manifest forms arise—making devotion to the manifest Lord philosophically valid.

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

By stating that mūrtimattā (embodied manifestation) rests on Śiva’s own innate sovereignty, the verse supports Linga and form-worship as a real expression of the same Supreme—Nirguṇa in essence, Saguna by free self-manifestation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as the independent Lord (Pati) while performing Linga-pūjā or japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” contemplating that His form is a freely assumed grace for the seeker’s liberation.