Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 34

शैवधर्मप्रशंसा तथा पञ्चविधसाधनविभागः / Praise of Śaiva Dharma and the Fivefold Classification of Practice

Devanagari script

अथवा त्रिगुणं तत्त्वमुपेयमिदमव्ययम् । मायान्तु प्रकृतिं विद्यान्मायिनं तु महेश्वरम्

Transliteration

athavā triguṇaṃ tattvamupeyamidamavyayam | māyāntu prakṛtiṃ vidyānmāyinaṃ tu maheśvaram

Translation

Or else, know this imperishable Reality as the tri-guṇic principle to be approached: understand Māyā to be Prakṛti (Nature), and the wielder of Māyā to be Maheśvara (the Supreme Lord Shiva).

Word by Word

• अथवा: or, alternatively
• अथवा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connecting particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात (indeclinable particle of alternative)

• त्रिगुणम्: threefold (having three guṇas)
• त्रिगुणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन (Neuter; Nom/Acc; Singular)

• तत्त्वम्: principle, reality
• तत्त्वम्: Karma (कर्म/object—of ‘to be known/considered’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन (Neuter; Nom/Acc; Singular)

• उपेयम्: to be attained
• उपेयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/modifier of तत्त्वम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप + इ (धातु) → उपेय (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त; भाव्य/कर्तव्यार्थे ‘यत्’ (gerundive/नीयत्-समर्थ); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन (Neuter; Nom/Acc; Singular)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Visheshya (विशेष्य/appositive to तत्त्वम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन (Pronoun; Neuter; Nom/Acc; Singular)

• अव्ययम्: imperishable, immutable
• अव्ययम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/modifier of इदम्/तत्त्वम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन (Neuter; Nom/Acc; Singular)

• मायाम्: māyā, illusion-power
• मायाम्: Karma (कर्म/object of विद्यात्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन (Feminine; Accusative; Singular)

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक-निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• प्रकृतिम्: Prakṛti, primordial nature
• प्रकृतिम्: Karma (कर्म/object-complement of ‘know as’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन (Feminine; Accusative; Singular)

• विद्यात्: should know
• विद्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन (Optative; Parasmaipada; 3rd person; Singular)

• मायिनम्: the possessor/controller of māyā
• मायिनम्: Karma (कर्म/object of implied ‘know as’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मायिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन (Masculine; Accusative; Singular)

• तु: and indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक-निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• महेश्वरम्: Maheśvara (the Great Lord)
• महेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म/object-complement: ‘know as Maheśvara’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन (Masculine; Accusative; Singular); समास: महा + ईश्वर (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्रायः ‘महान् ईश्वरः’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Maheshvara
• Maya
• Prakriti

FAQs

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

It distinguishes between Māyā/Prakṛti (the tri-guṇic field that binds the soul) and Maheśvara (the Lord who governs Māyā), directing the seeker to recognize Shiva as the imperishable Pati who enables liberation.

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

Linga-worship trains the mind to turn from the changing tri-guṇic world (Prakṛti/Māyā) toward the Mayin—Maheśvara—who is indicated by the Linga as the transcendent Lord, accessible through devotion and right knowledge.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate daily that Māyā is Prakṛti and Shiva is its Lord, and support that contemplation with japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to shift identification away from the guṇas toward Maheśvara.