Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 2

शिवतत्त्वे परापरभावविचारः

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

Devanagari script

शिवयोस्तत्त्वसम्बन्धे न दोष उपलभ्यते । चरितैः प्राकृतो भावस्तयोरपि विभाव्यते

Transliteration

śivayostattvasambandhe na doṣa upalabhyate | caritaiḥ prākṛto bhāvastayorapi vibhāvyate

Translation

Dans la relation essentielle, métaphysique (tattva) de Śiva et de sa Śakti, aucune faute ne se trouve. Pourtant, par leurs récits divins, même une tonalité apparemment « mondaine » en eux devient intelligible, pour l’instruction et la dévotion.

Word by Word

• शिवयोः: of the two Śivas (Śiva and Śivā)
• शिवयोः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी (6/7), द्विवचन

• तत्त्वसम्बन्धे: in the essential relationship
• तत्त्वसम्बन्धे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व-सम्बन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (तत्त्वस्य सम्बन्धः)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• दोषः: fault
• दोषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• उपलभ्यते: is found/obtained
• उपलभ्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• चरितैः: by the deeds/episodes
• चरितैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरित (प्रातिपदिक; चर्-धातोः क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन

• प्राकृतः: ordinary/worldly
• प्राकृतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• भावः: state/meaning/intent
• भावः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• तयोः: of those two
• तयोः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/सप्तमी (6/7), द्विवचन; सर्वनाम

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/सम्भावना-अव्यय (also/even)

• विभाव्यते: is made manifest/is inferred
• विभाव्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-भू (धातु) (णिच्) → विभावय (धातु-प्रयोग)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive); णिच्-प्रयोग (causative base)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva and Śakti are flawless at the level of tattva (ultimate reality), while their narrated līlās may appear human-like only to guide devotees—making profound metaphysics accessible through story and devotion.

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

It legitimizes saguna worship (including Liṅga worship) by showing that divine forms and narratives are pedagogical expressions of the faultless tattva—devotees approach the transcendent through approachable manifestations.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Shiva–Shakti tattva while chanting the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), using the Purāṇic līlās as meditation supports—seeing every ‘human-like’ episode as a doorway to the flawless reality of Pati.