Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 24

षडध्ववेदनम् (Ṣaḍadhva-vedanam) — The Sixfold Path: Sound, Meaning, and Tattva-Distribution

Devanagari script

यामाहुः परमं व्योम परप्रकृतियोगतः । एतानि पञ्चतत्त्वानि यैर्व्याप्तमखिलं जगत्

Transliteration

yāmāhuḥ paramaṃ vyoma paraprakṛtiyogataḥ | etāni pañcatattvāni yairvyāptamakhilaṃ jagat

Translation

Ce qu’ils nomment l’Éther suprême, par son union avec la Prakṛti supérieure : tels sont les cinq principes (tattva) par lesquels l’univers entier est pénétré.

Word by Word

• याम्: which (that)
• याम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; relative pronoun accusative singular feminine

• आहुः: they call
• आहुः: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; 3rd pl perfect ‘they said/call’

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; accusative singular neuter

• व्योम: sky/ether
• व्योम: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्योमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; accusative singular neuter

• परप्रकृति: higher nature
• परप्रकृति: सम्बन्ध (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परा (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; कर्मधारयः ‘परा प्रकृतिः’

• योगतः: by/through union; due to yoga
• योगतः: हेतु (Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; ablative singular used adverbially ‘due to/by means of’

• एतानि: these
• एतानि: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; demonstrative pronoun nominative plural neuter

• पञ्चतत्त्वानि: the five principles/elements
• पञ्चतत्त्वानि: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या) + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास ‘पञ्च तत्त्वानि’

• यैः: by which
• यैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; relative pronoun instrumental plural neuter

• व्याप्तम्: is pervaded
• व्याप्तम्: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्याप् (धातु) → व्याप्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; past passive participle ‘pervaded’ agreeing with जगत्

• अखिलम्: entire
• अखिलम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; nominative singular neuter

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; nominative singular neuter

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Cosmological pervasion: pañca-tattva/pañca-bhūta framework presented as the pervasive matrix of the jagat, linked to ‘supreme space’ and higher prakṛti.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It points to the all-pervading basis of manifestation: the five elemental principles arise and function through a supreme, subtle expanse (parama vyoma) connected to higher Prakṛti, reminding the seeker that the cosmos is a permeated field, not a disconnected collection—supporting inward contemplation toward Pati (Shiva) beyond the tattvas.

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

Linga worship trains the mind to see Shiva as the indwelling reality within all layers of creation. Since the entire jagat is pervaded by tattvas, the Linga becomes a focused support (saguna upasana) for recognizing the pervasive presence of Shiva who transcends, yet pervades, the elemental field.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is bhuta-shuddhi (elemental purification) in meditation—contemplating the elements dissolving into subtler principles—paired with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” to turn awareness from the pervaded tattvas toward the pervader, Shiva.