Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 16

पशुपाशपतिज्ञान-प्राप्तिः

Acquisition of Paśupati–Pāśa Knowledge

Devanagari script

वायुरुवाच । प्रकृतिः क्षरमित्युक्तं पुरुषो ऽक्षर उच्यते । ताविमौ प्रेरयत्यन्यस्स परा परमेश्वरः

Transliteration

vāyuruvāca | prakṛtiḥ kṣaramityuktaṃ puruṣo 'kṣara ucyate | tāvimau prerayatyanyassa parā parameśvaraḥ

Translation

Vāyu dit : «Prakṛti est déclarée périssable (kṣara), et Puruṣa est dit immuable (akṣara). Pourtant, il est un Autre qui les meut et les gouverne tous deux : Il est le Suprême, Parameśvara, le Seigneur transcendant».

Word by Word

• vāyuḥ: Vāyu
• vāyuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/परफेक्ट), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘said’

• prakṛtiḥ: Prakṛti (primordial nature)
• prakṛtiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prakṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• kṣaram: the perishable
• kṣaram: Pratipādya/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; predicate nominative/accusative form

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणार्थक अव्यय

• uktam: is said (to be)
• uktam: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु) → ukta (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; ‘said/called’

• puruṣaḥ: Puruṣa (spirit/person)
• puruṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• akṣaraḥ: the imperishable
• akṣaraḥ: Pratipādya/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-kṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; predicate nominative

• ucyate: is called
• ucyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘is called’

• tau: those two
• tau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), द्विवचन; demonstrative—‘those two’

• imau: these two
• imau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), द्विवचन; ‘these two’

• prerayati: impels
• prerayati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-īr (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘impels/drives’

• anyaḥ: another (distinct one)
• anyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; adjective used substantively—‘another (one)’

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; pronoun

• parā: supreme
• parā: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; adjective ‘supreme’ (agreeing with implied śakti/vidyā or used as epithet)

• parameśvaraḥ: the Supreme Lord
• parameśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मधारयसमासः—‘परमः ईश्वरः’

Speaker

Vayu

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes the Siddhāntic discernment of Pati distinct from prakṛti and puruṣa; such viveka is held to be a prerequisite for Śiva-anugraha and liberation.

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It distinguishes perishable Nature (prakṛti) and the imperishable individual consciousness (puruṣa), then affirms a higher reality—Parameśvara (Śiva as Pati)—who transcends and governs both, pointing to liberation through knowing the Supreme Lord rather than identifying with matter or limited individuality.

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

The Liṅga signifies Parameśvara who is beyond changing prakṛti and beyond the bound puruṣa, yet graciously becomes approachable in Saguna form. Worship of the Liṅga trains the mind to recognize the one transcendent Lord who ‘impels’ all cosmic functions.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as the inner governor (antaryāmin) distinct from body-mind (prakṛti) and the limited self (puruṣa), supporting this with japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and steady dhyāna on the Liṅga as the symbol of the Supreme.