Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 17

विभूतिविस्तरप्रश्नः / Inquiry into the Expansion of Śiva’s Vibhūti

Devanagari script

नष्टमासीन्मलं सर्वं मायाजं कार्ममेव च । तपःक्षीणमलं कृष्णमुपमन्युर्यथाविधिः

Transliteration

naṣṭamāsīnmalaṃ sarvaṃ māyājaṃ kārmameva ca | tapaḥkṣīṇamalaṃ kṛṣṇamupamanyuryathāvidhiḥ

Translation

Ainsi, toute souillure fut détruite—celle née de la māyā comme celle issue du karma. Par l’austérité, la tache sombre qui enchaîne s’est usée, et Upamanyu fut purifié selon la règle prescrite.

Word by Word

• naṣṭam: destroyed, gone
• naṣṭam: Karma (कर्म) / Predicate complement to 'malaṃ'
• Type: Adjective
• Root: naṣṭa (कृदन्त; √naś नश्, past passive participle)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; PPP used predicatively

• āsīt: was
• āsīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (अस्)
• Form: Laṅ (लङ्) imperfect/past, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• malam: impurity
• malam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• sarvam: all, entire
• sarvam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agrees with 'malam'

• māyā-jam: born of illusion (māyā)
• māyā-jam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: māyā (प्रातिपदिक) + ja (कृदन्त; √jan जन्, 'born')
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): māyāyāḥ jam = born of māyā; agrees with 'malam'

• kārma: karmic
• kārma: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kārma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agrees with 'malam'

• eva: indeed, just
• eva: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) of emphasis

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

• tapaḥ-kṣīṇa-malam: whose impurity was reduced by austerity
• tapaḥ-kṣīṇa-malam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣīṇa (कृदन्त; √kṣi क्षि, 'diminished') + mala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; तत्पुरुष (instrumental/causal sense): tapasā kṣīṇam malam yasya/tat = impurity diminished by austerity; used predicatively with 'malam'

• kṛṣṇam: Kṛṣṇa
• kṛṣṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• upamanyuḥ: Upamanyu (the sage)
• upamanyuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upamanyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• yathā-vidhiḥ: according to the prescribed rule
• yathā-vidhiḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव: yathā vidhim = according to rule; functions adverbially

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Upamanyu

FAQs

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

It teaches that bondage is twofold—māyic delusion and karmic residue—and that disciplined tapas, aligned with śāstra, burns away the obscuring mala, preparing the devotee for Shiva’s grace and liberation.

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

In the Shiva Purana’s devotional framework, correct worship (yathā-vidhi) of Saguna Shiva—often centered on the Linga—purifies the mind; when impurities thin out, the devotee becomes fit to realize Shiva beyond form as well.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse emphasizes yathā-vidhi discipline: sustained tapas with scriptural observance—such as mantra-japa (including Panchakshara), regulated vows, and purity-oriented worship—aimed at reducing karmic and māyic impurities.