Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 8
शिवतत्त्वे परापरभावविचारः
Inquiry into Śiva’s Principle and the Parā–Aparā Paradox
निष्फलो हि स्वभावो ऽस्य परमः परमात्मनः । स एव सकलः कस्मात्स्वभावो ह्यविपर्ययः
niṣphalo hi svabhāvo 'sya paramaḥ paramātmanaḥ | sa eva sakalaḥ kasmātsvabhāvo hyaviparyayaḥ
En vérité, la nature suprême de ce Soi suprême est sans action et sans fruit (au-delà des résultats karmiques). Pourquoi donc cette même Réalité est-elle dite « avec des parties », manifestée avec des attributs? Car sa nature est réellement sans contradiction et ne se renverse jamais.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya philosophical teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: creative
FAQs
It frames a core Shaiva Siddhanta insight: Shiva as Pati is intrinsically beyond karma and its fruits, yet can also be experienced as the manifest Lord for the sake of grace and liberation—without any real contradiction in His nature.
The verse explains why worship can validly address Shiva in a manifest, accessible form (sakala/saguṇa)—such as the Śiva-liṅga—while affirming that His highest reality remains actionless and transcendent (niṣphala, beyond karmic limitation).
Meditate on Shiva as both transcendent (formless, beyond results) and immanent (grace-filled Lord in the liṅga); support this with japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and steady dhyāna on the non-contradictory nature of Pati.