Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 97

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

Devanagari script

नैते प्रतिष्ठितज्ञाना इति मत्वैवमब्रवीत् । वायुरुवाच्व । परोक्षमपरोक्षं च द्विविधं ज्ञानमिष्यते

Transliteration

naite pratiṣṭhitajñānā iti matvaivamabravīt | vāyuruvācva | parokṣamaparokṣaṃ ca dvividhaṃ jñānamiṣyate

Translation

Pensant : «Ils ne sont pas établis dans la connaissance véritable», il parla ainsi. Vāyu dit : On tient la connaissance pour double : indirecte (parokṣa) et directe, de réalisation immédiate (aparokṣa).

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• ete: these
• ete: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahu-vacana; demonstrative pronoun

• pratiṣṭhita-jñānāḥ: having established knowledge
• pratiṣṭhita-jñānāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pratiṣṭhita (prati√sthā, धातु; क्त) + jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi (बहुव्रीहि) ‘those whose knowledge is established’; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahu-vacana

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-sūcaka (वाक्यार्थसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति)

• matvā: having thought
• matvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √man (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा) ‘having thought/considered’

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (एवम्)

• abravīt: he said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया/verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (लुङ्, Aorist), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Eka-vacana

• vāyuḥ: Vāyu
• vāyuḥ: Karta (कर्ता/speaker)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana; speaker tag

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया/verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, Perfect), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Eka-vacana

• parokṣam: indirect (not directly perceived)
• parokṣam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parokṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Eka-vacana; used substantively with jñānam

• aparokṣam: direct (immediate)
• aparokṣam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aparokṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana; used substantively

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चय)

• dvividham: twofold
• dvividham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi-vidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) numeral-determinative ‘of two kinds’; Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana

• jñānam: knowledge
• jñānam: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana

• iṣyate: is accepted/considered
• iṣyate: Kriyā (क्रिया/verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √iṣ (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, Present), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Eka-vacana; passive-like sense ‘is held/considered’

Speaker

Vayu

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Vayu

FAQs

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

It distinguishes book-knowledge and inference (parokṣa) from liberating, lived realization (aparokṣa), implying that mokṣa in Shaiva teaching culminates in direct recognition of Shiva (Pati) beyond mere concepts.

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

Linga worship can begin as parokṣa devotion supported by scripture and tradition, but its purpose is to mature into aparokṣa anubhava—direct inner certainty of Shiva’s presence, where the symbol leads the seeker to the Reality it signifies.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Steady japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with dhyāna can transform parokṣa understanding into aparokṣa experience; disciplined worship (pūjā) and contemplation are implied as the bridge to direct realization.