Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 14

शिवतत्त्वे परापरभावविचारः

Inquiry into Śiva’s Principle and the Parā–Aparā Paradox

Devanagari script

स्वीकर्तुं स्वेच्छया देहं हातुं च प्रभवन्त्युत । ब्रह्मादयः पिशाचांताः किं ते कर्मातिवर्तिनः

Transliteration

svīkartuṃ svecchayā dehaṃ hātuṃ ca prabhavantyuta | brahmādayaḥ piśācāṃtāḥ kiṃ te karmātivartinaḥ

Translation

Ils peuvent certes, par leur seule volonté, revêtir un corps et aussi l’abandonner. De Brahmā et des autres dieux jusqu’aux piśāca : comment pourraient-ils être des êtres qui transgressent le karma ?

Word by Word

• स्वीकर्तुम्: to accept
• स्वीकर्तुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्वी√कृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive), क्रियार्थक-अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः

• स्वेच्छया: by (their) own will
• स्वेच्छया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्व-इच्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; साधन/हेतु-भावः (by/through one's own will)

• देहम्: body
• देहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• हातुम्: to abandon
• हातुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हा (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• प्रभवन्ति: are able
• प्रभवन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• उत: indeed/also
• उत: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उत (अव्यय)
• Form: पादपूरण/समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (particle; also/indeed)

• ब्रह्म-आदयः: Brahmā and others
• ब्रह्म-आदयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; ‘ब्रह्मा’ इत्यादयः (beginning with Brahmā)

• पिशाच-अन्ताः: up to (even) piśācas
• पिशाच-अन्ताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिशाच + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; ‘पिशाचपर्यन्ताः’ (ending with piśācas)

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक (interrogative)

• ते: of you/your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• कर्म-अतिवर्तिनः: transcenders of karma
• कर्म-अतिवर्तिनः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्मन् + अतिवर्तिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; ‘कर्म अतिक्रम्य वर्तन्ते’ (those who transcend karma)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Piśācas

FAQs

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

It clarifies that even powerful beings may control taking and leaving bodies, yet they are not necessarily beyond karmic law; true transcendence of karma belongs to liberation through Shiva (Pati), not merely to supernatural capacity.

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

It points seekers away from fascination with powers and toward refuge in Shiva as the liberator; Linga-worship and devotion to Saguna Shiva are presented as means to purify bondage (pāśa) and move toward grace that alone dissolves karma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate karma-shuddhi through Shiva-upāsanā—japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), disciplined living, and meditative surrender—rather than pursuing siddhis or control over subtle states.