Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 29

प्रणवविभागः—वेदस्वरूपत्वं लिङ्गे च प्रतिष्ठा

The Division of Oṃ, Its Vedic Forms, and Its Placement in the Liṅga

Devanagari script

परमं कारणं साक्षात्स्वयं निष्कारणं शिवम् । कारणानां च धातारं ध्यातारां ध्येयमव्ययम्

Transliteration

paramaṃ kāraṇaṃ sākṣātsvayaṃ niṣkāraṇaṃ śivam | kāraṇānāṃ ca dhātāraṃ dhyātārāṃ dhyeyamavyayam

Translation

Śiva est, en vérité et directement, la Cause suprême ; et pourtant Lui-même est sans cause. Il soutient toutes les causes, et pour ceux qui méditent, Il est l’Objet impérissable de la méditation, immuable.

Word by Word

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; ‘supreme’ (qualifying कारणम्/शिवम्)

• कारणम्: cause
• कारणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• साक्षात्: directly, in person
• साक्षात्: Sambandha/Anvaya (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (directly/in person)

• स्वयम्: by himself/itself
• स्वयम्: Sambandha/Anvaya (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, आत्मवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (oneself)

• निष्कारणम्: causeless
• निष्कारणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः-कारण (प्रातिपदिक; निः + कारण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; ‘without cause’

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; (object of implied ‘know/meditate’)

• कारणानाम्: of (all) causes
• कारणानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; ‘of causes’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Anvaya (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• धातारम्: the sustainer/creator
• धातारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धातृ (प्रातिपदिक; √धा + तृच्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक-तृन्त (agent noun)

• ध्याताराम्: of meditators
• ध्याताराम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यातृ (प्रातिपदिक; √ध्यै + तृच्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; ‘of meditators’

• ध्येयम्: the object of meditation
• ध्येयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्येय (प्रातिपदिक; √ध्यै + यत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; ‘to be meditated upon’

• अव्ययम्: imperishable
• अव्ययम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; ‘imperishable/unchanging’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes Shiva as Pati—the ultimate Reality who is both the source of all causal chains and yet beyond causation, making Him the imperishable goal of meditation and liberation.

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

The Linga functions as a sacred, graspable focus for the mind: through Saguna worship of the Linga, the devotee is led toward realizing Shiva as the causeless, imperishable ground of all causes.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice dhyāna by fixing awareness on Shiva as the dhyeya (object of meditation), supported by japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and, where traditional, wearing Rudraksha and applying Tripundra (bhasma) to steady devotion and concentration.