Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 2

शिवस्य परापरब्रह्मस्वरूपनिर्णयः / Determination of Śiva as Higher and Lower Brahman

Devanagari script

तमेकमेव बहुधा वदंति यदुनंदन । अजानन्तः परं भावमविकल्पं महर्षयः

Transliteration

tamekameva bahudhā vadaṃti yadunaṃdana | ajānantaḥ paraṃ bhāvamavikalpaṃ maharṣayaḥ

Translation

Oh descendiente de Yadu, los grandes sabios hablan de ese Uno solo de muchas maneras; pues, al no realizar su estado supremo, no dual y sin distinciones conceptuales (avikalpa), lo describen mediante expresiones diversas.

Word by Word

• तम्: him/that (Supreme)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• बहुधा: in many ways
• बहुधा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहुधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• वदन्ति: say
• वदन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमानकाल), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• यदुनन्दन: O son of Yadu
• यदुनन्दन: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यदु (प्रातिपदिक) + नन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8 विभक्ति), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (यदोः नन्दनः)

• अजानन्तः: not knowing
• अजानन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-√ज्ञा (धातु) + शतृ (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), बहुवचन; वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• भावम्: state/essence
• भावम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2 विभक्ति), एकवचन

• अविकल्पम्: non-dual/without alternatives
• अविकल्पम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविकल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• महर्षयः: great sages
• महर्षयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महर्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

FAQs

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

It teaches that the Supreme (Shiva as Pati) is one, yet spoken of with many names and doctrines; liberation arises by realizing His avikalpa—concept-free, non-dual—nature rather than clinging to partial descriptions.

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

The Linga and other saguna forms are valid devotional supports that point to the One Shiva; the verse reminds the seeker to use form and name as gateways, culminating in recognition of the formless, undivided reality they signify.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Avikalpa is approached through steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with inward contemplation—letting names and concepts settle—supported by Shaiva disciplines like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as aids to focus and purity.