Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 45

पशु-पाश-पतिविचारः / Inquiry into Paśu, Pāśa, and Pati

Devanagari script

दिश ऊर्ध्वमधस्तिर्यक्भासयन् भ्राजते स्वयम् । यो निःस्वभावादप्येको वरेण्यस्त्वधितिष्ठति

Transliteration

diśa ūrdhvamadhastiryakbhāsayan bhrājate svayam | yo niḥsvabhāvādapyeko vareṇyastvadhitiṣṭhati

Translation

He alone shines by his own power, illumining the directions—above, below, and across. Though beyond all attributes and inherent nature, that One, supremely worthy of worship, yet presides over all.

Word by Word

• दिशः: the directions
• दिशः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन

• ऊर्ध्वम्: upwards
• ऊर्ध्वम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययप्राय)
• Form: अव्यय, दिशावाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: 'upwards')

• अधः: downwards
• अधः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, दिशावाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: 'downwards')

• तिर्यक्: sideways
• तिर्यक्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तिर्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, दिशावाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: 'sideways/across')

• भासयन्: illuminating
• भासयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भास् (धातु) + णिच् + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (causative present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; यो इति कर्तरि विशेषणवत्

• भ्राजते: shines
• भ्राजते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भ्राज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• स्वयम्: by himself
• स्वयम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, आत्मार्थक (reflexive adverb: 'by oneself')

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)

• निःस्वभावात्: from (having) no inherent nature
• निःस्वभावात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निः + स्वभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (निः = अभावः; स्वभावस्य अभावः)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अप्यर्थक/समुच्चयार्थक (particle: 'even/also')

• एकः: one / single
• एकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; यो इति कर्तरि विशेषणम्

• वरेण्यः: most excellent / worthy
• वरेण्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरेण्य (प्रातिपदिक; √वृ (धातु) + अनीय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; अनीय-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (worthy to be chosen)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विशेषार्थक/विरोधार्थक

• अधितिष्ठति: presides over / stands above
• अधितिष्ठति: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि + √स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares Shiva as self-luminous consciousness who illumines all experience, transcending qualities (nirguṇa) yet remaining the supreme Lord (Pati) who governs and sustains the cosmos.

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

The verse points to the nirguṇa truth behind worship: the Linga and saguna forms are sacred supports through which devotees approach the One who is beyond attributes, yet actively presides over the world.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the inner light in all directions (sarvato-mukha awareness) while repeating the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—to shift attention from changing qualities to the self-effulgent Lord.