Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 41

प्रणवविभागः—वेदस्वरूपत्वं लिङ्गे च प्रतिष्ठा

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

Devanagari script

तस्मान्ममार्थस्वातंत्र्यात्प्रधानः परमेश्वरः । यदस्ति वस्तु तत्सर्वं गुणप्रधान्ययोगतः

Transliteration

tasmānmamārthasvātaṃtryātpradhānaḥ parameśvaraḥ | yadasti vastu tatsarvaṃ guṇapradhānyayogataḥ

Translation

Ainsi, par Ma souveraine liberté quant au dessein (artha), Moi — le Parameśvara, Seigneur Suprême — suis la cause première. Tout ce qui existe apparaît selon la prédominance des guṇa et leurs conjonctions.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: from that (therefore)
• तस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), नपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन

• मम: of me / my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• अर्थ-स्वातन्त्र्यात्: from (His) independence regarding purpose/meaning
• अर्थ-स्वातन्त्र्यात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वातन्त्र्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: अर्थस्य स्वातन्त्र्यम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन

• प्रधानः: the chief / the primary
• प्रधानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• परमेश्वरः: the Supreme Lord
• परमेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (परमः ईश्वरः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• यत्: whatever (that which)
• यत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (relative pronoun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• अस्ति: is / exists
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• वस्तु: a thing / entity
• वस्तु: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (demonstrative), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• गुण-प्रधान्य-अयोगतः: due to the non-connection with the predominance of guṇas
• गुण-प्रधान्य-अयोगतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रधान्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अयोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासान्त-तद्धित/अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; ‘-तः’ (tasīl) अव्ययप्रत्ययः = Ablatival adverb ‘because of/from’; तत्पुरुष-समास (गुणस्य प्रधान्यम्) + अयोग; अव्यय (adverbial)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (as Parameśvara, teaching the supreme principle in the Vāyavīya philosophical discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It affirms that Parameśvara (Shiva) is the ultimate, independent Lord whose will is the root cause, while the diversity of the world is experienced through the varying dominance of the three guṇas—showing Shiva’s transcendence and immanence together.

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

Although Shiva is independent and supreme, devotees approach Him through saguna forms such as the Śiva-liṅga; the guṇa-conditioned world is a field where devotion, worship, and grace operate, leading the seeker from manifest symbols to realization of the Supreme.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate guṇa-purification—steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), meditation on Shiva as the inner Lord beyond the guṇas, and disciplined sādhana (often supported by bhasma and rudrākṣa in Shaiva practice).