Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 48

पशु-पाश-पतिविचारः / Inquiry into Paśu, Pāśa, and Pati

Devanagari script

भावग्राह्यमनीहाख्यं भावाभावकरं शिवम् । कलासर्गकरं देवं ये विदुस्ते जहुस्तनुम्

Transliteration

bhāvagrāhyamanīhākhyaṃ bhāvābhāvakaraṃ śivam | kalāsargakaraṃ devaṃ ye viduste jahustanum

Translation

Ceux qui connaissent véritablement Śiva—le Seigneur saisi seulement par la réalisation intérieure, dit « sans désir », qui opère à la fois la manifestation et la résorption, et qui, en tant que Deva, déploie la création par ses kalā—ceux-là quittent le corps (et atteignent la délivrance).

Word by Word

• bhāva-grāhya-manīha-ākhyam: graspable by bhāva, called effortless
• bhāva-grāhya-manīha-ākhyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhāva (प्रातिपदिक) + grāhya (√grah + यत्) + manīha (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्राय: 'bhāvena grāhyaṃ, manīhā-ākhyam' (graspable by devotion/inner feeling; called 'without effort')

• bhāva-abhāva-karam: cause of being and non-being
• bhāva-abhāva-karam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhāva (प्रातिपदिक) + abhāva (प्रातिपदिक) + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-पूर्वपद (bhāva+abhāva) + तत्पुरुष (kara): 'bhāvābhāvayoḥ karaḥ' (maker/causer of being and non-being)

• śivam: Śiva
• śivam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• kalā-sarga-karam: maker of the emanation of kalās
• kalā-sarga-karam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kalā (प्रातिपदिक) + sarga (प्रातिपदिक) + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'kalānāṃ sargasya karaḥ' (creator of the emanation of kalās/parts)

• devam: the god
• devam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• ye: those who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम

• viduḥ: have known
• viduḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid (विद् धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• jahuḥ: abandoned
• jahuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √hā (हा धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• tanum: the body
• tanum: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tanu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that liberation comes from direct realization of Shiva: He is inwardly knowable (bhāva), desireless, and the Lord of both manifestation and withdrawal; knowing Him, the realized soul transcends bodily identity.

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

While Shiva is ultimately realized inwardly and beyond ordinary grasping, the Linga and other Saguna forms serve as supports for devotion and meditation, leading the seeker toward that inner bhāva by which Shiva is truly known.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditative contemplation on Shiva as desireless and as the Lord of creation and dissolution is implied; in practice this is commonly supported by japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady dhyāna on the Linga.