Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 70

शिवशक्त्यैक्य-तत्त्वविचारः / Inquiry into the Unity of Śiva and Śakti

Para–Apara Ontology

Devanagari script

तृणादिशिवमूर्त्यंतं विश्वख्यातिशयक्रमः । सन्निकर्षक्रमवशात्तयोरिति परा श्रुतिः

Transliteration

tṛṇādiśivamūrtyaṃtaṃ viśvakhyātiśayakramaḥ | sannikarṣakramavaśāttayoriti parā śrutiḥ

Translation

From a blade of grass up to the very form of Śiva, a graded hierarchy of excellence in worldly renown is seen; yet, according to the supreme revelation, for those two (the jīva and Śiva) there is a “this-ness” by the degrees of nearness—by ever greater proximity to the Lord, that state becomes manifest.

Word by Word

• tṛṇa-ādi-śiva-mūrti-antam: up to the form of Śiva, beginning from grass
• tṛṇa-ādi-śiva-mūrti-antam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tṛṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + mūrti (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); used adjectivally qualifying 'kramaḥ' as extent/limit phrase

• viśva-khyāti-śaya-kramaḥ: the gradation of increasing fame in the world
• viśva-khyāti-śaya-kramaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक) + khyāti (प्रातिपदिक) + śaya (प्रातिपदिक) + krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• sannikarṣa-krama-vaśāt: due to the order of proximity
• sannikarṣa-krama-vaśāt: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sannikarṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + krama (प्रातिपदिक) + vaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative used adverbially (पञ्चमी-अर्थे अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोग): Masculine/Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• tayor: of those two
• tayor: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Genitive/Dual (6th/षष्ठी, द्विवचन)

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-प्रयोग)

• parā: supreme
• parā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying 'śrutiḥ'

• śrutiḥ: scriptural statement/Śruti
• śrutiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śruti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that worldly gradations (from the lowliest to the highest) are ultimately surpassed by spiritual proximity to Śiva; liberation and true excellence come by drawing nearer to Pati (the Lord), not by mere worldly status.

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

In Shaiva practice, Saguna worship (such as Linga-pūjā) is a disciplined means to increase ‘sannikarṣa’—nearness to Śiva—so that the soul’s bondage loosens and the Lord’s grace becomes more evident.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular Shiva-upāsanā that cultivates closeness—japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), Linga-archana, and steady dhyāna on Śiva—aligns with the verse’s emphasis on progressive nearness leading toward realization.