Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 74

अनुग्रह-स्वातन्त्र्य-प्रमाणविचारः | Inquiry into Pramāṇa, Divine Autonomy, and Grace

Devanagari script

इत्थमौपाधिको भेदो विश्वस्य परिकल्पितः । एकद्वित्रिमलान्सर्वाञ्छिव एको ऽधितिष्ठति

Transliteration

itthamaupādhiko bhedo viśvasya parikalpitaḥ | ekadvitrimalānsarvāñchiva eko 'dhitiṣṭhati

Translation

Ainsi, la diversité de l’univers est conçue comme provenant des upādhis, ces conditions limitantes. Pourtant, Śiva seul préside à tous les êtres, qu’ils soient liés par une, deux ou trois impuretés (mala).

Word by Word

• ittham: thus, in this manner
• ittham: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ittham (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• aupādhikaḥ: due to limiting adjuncts, conditioned
• aupādhikaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aupādhika (प्रातिपदिक) < upādhi (उपाधि)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (प्रथमा/1st case), Ekavacana (एकवचन); adjective qualifying bhedaḥ

• bhedaḥ: difference, distinction
• bhedaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana

• viśvasya: of the universe
• viśvasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (षष्ठी/6th case), Ekavacana; genitive relation

• parikalpitaḥ: is imagined/constructed
• parikalpitaḥ: Karma (कर्म) / Predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari√kḷp (परि√कॢप्, धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Past Passive Participle (कृत्—क्त/कर्मणि भूतकृदन्त), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; agrees with bhedaḥ

• eka-dvi-tri-malān: (those) with one, two, and three impurities
• eka-dvi-tri-malān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + dvi (प्रातिपदिक) + tri (प्रातिपदिक) + mala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā vibhakti (द्वितीया/2nd case), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन); dvandva compound used adjectivally qualifying sarvān

• sarvān: all (beings)
• sarvān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Bahuvacana; object of adhitiṣṭhati

• śivaḥ: Śiva
• śivaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana

• ekaḥ: one, alone
• ekaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; adjective qualifying śivaḥ

• adhitiṣṭhati: presides over, governs
• adhitiṣṭhati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: adhi√sthā (अधि√स्था, धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra (लट्/Present), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष/3rd person), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that worldly multiplicity is not ultimate; it is a constructed appearance caused by upādhis. From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, souls (paśu) are bound by malas, yet Śiva as Pati remains the single inner ruler and liberator of all.

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

Linga-worship centers the mind on the one Lord who pervades and governs all forms. Even when approached as Saguna (with attributes) for devotion, the verse affirms that the same Śiva alone presides beyond the apparent differences produced by limiting conditions.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as the indwelling ruler of all beings while japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") is performed; offer bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and/or wear rudrākṣa with the intent of reducing impurity (mala) and dissolving false notions of separateness.