Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 50

प्रणवविभागः—वेदस्वरूपत्वं लिङ्गे च प्रतिष्ठा

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

Devanagari script

कारणत्रयहेतुश्च शिवः परमकारणम् । अर्थमेतमविज्ञाय रजसा बद्धवैरयोः

Transliteration

kāraṇatrayahetuśca śivaḥ paramakāraṇam | arthametamavijñāya rajasā baddhavairayoḥ

Translation

Śiva est la cause derrière les trois causes, et Il est Lui-même la Cause suprême. Sans connaître cette vérité, les êtres—liés par le rajas—tombent dans l’inimitié réciproque.

Word by Word

• kāraṇa-traya-hetuḥ: the cause of the three (causes)
• kāraṇa-traya-hetuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + traya (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या) + hetu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; Tatpuruṣa: 'cause of the three causes' / 'having (being) the cause related to the triad of causes'

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

• śivaḥ: Śiva
• śivaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• parama-kāraṇam: the supreme cause
• parama-kāraṇam: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) or Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; here predicate nominative: 'supreme cause'

• artham: the meaning
• artham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• etam: this
• etam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun used adjectivally; Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; agrees with artham

• avijñāya: not understanding
• avijñāya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: a-vi-√jñā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), 'not having understood/known'

• rajasā: by rajas (passion)
• rajasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rajas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• baddha-vairayoḥ: of the two with fixed enmity
• baddha-vairayoḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: baddha (√bandh, धातु; क्त-प्रत्यय) + vaira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual; Tatpuruṣa: 'of the two whose enmity is bound/fastened' (baddha as past passive participle used adjectivally)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Doctrinal statement: Śiva is paramakāraṇa (cause of causes). The mention of rajas-bound enmity functions as a critique of sectarian or egoic rivalry, often thematically adjacent to Liṅga revelations that humble Brahmā/Viṣṇu.

Significance: Contemplation on Śiva as paramakāraṇa counters rājasic conflict and supports śānti and bhakti leading to grace (anugraha).

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that liberation begins with right knowledge: realizing Śiva as the ultimate ground behind all secondary causes; ignorance of this leads to rajasic agitation, conflict, and continued bondage (pāśa).

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

Linga-worship focuses the mind on the one Supreme Cause (Pati) beyond changing effects; by meditating on Śiva in a form (saguṇa) one is led toward insight into His transcendence as the Paramakāraṇa.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate sattva through daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady dhyāna on Śiva; this pacifies rajas, reducing hostility and making the mind fit for Śiva-jñāna.