Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 58

प्रणवविभागः—वेदस्वरूपत्वं लिङ्गे च प्रतिष्ठा

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

Devanagari script

वाह्यमाभ्यंतरं व्याप्तं वाह्याभ्यंतरवर्जितम् । निरस्तातिशयं शश्वद्विश्वलोकविलक्षणम्

Transliteration

vāhyamābhyaṃtaraṃ vyāptaṃ vāhyābhyaṃtaravarjitam | nirastātiśayaṃ śaśvadviśvalokavilakṣaṇam

Translation

Il pénètre à la fois l’extérieur et l’intérieur, et pourtant Il est libre de toute notion de « dehors » et de « dedans ». Dépassant sans cesse toute limite et toute comparaison, Il demeure éternellement distinct des mondes et de leurs ordres d’existence.

Word by Word

• वाह्यम्: external
• वाह्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc; contextually predicate adjective)

• आभ्यन्तरम्: internal
• आभ्यन्तरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आभ्यन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc; predicate adjective)

• व्याप्तम्: pervaded
• व्याप्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √व्याप् (धातु) → व्याप्त (कृदन्त-क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; अर्थः ‘pervaded’

• वाह्य-आभ्यन्तर-वर्जितम्: devoid of both external and internal
• वाह्य-आभ्यन्तर-वर्जितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाह्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आभ्यन्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्जित (कृदन्त; √वृज्/√वर्ज्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; समासः: (वाह्य + आभ्यन्तर) इति द्वन्द्वः, तदुपरि ‘वर्जित’ इति तत्पुरुष-निर्माण (उभयवर्जितम् = devoid of both)

• निरस्त-अतिशयम्: free from excess/superiority (beyond comparison)
• निरस्त-अतिशयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरस्त (कृदन्त; निर्+√अस्/√स्तॄ) + अतिशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/कर्मतत्पुरुष: ‘अतिशयः निरस्तः यस्मिन्’)

• शश्वत्: always/eternally
• शश्वत्: Prakara (प्रकार/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शश्वत् (अव्यय/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb: always/eternally)

• विश्व-लोक-विलक्षणम्: distinct from the worlds/universe
• विश्व-लोक-विलक्षणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + विलक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: ‘विश्वलोकस्य विलक्षणम्’ = distinct from the universe/worlds)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse points to Shiva as Pati—the all-pervading consciousness present within and without, yet untouched by conceptual divisions. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, this supports meditative discernment: the Lord is immanent as grace and presence, but transcendent beyond worldly categories, leading the soul (paśu) toward liberation from bonds (pāśa).

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

The Linga functions as a sacred support for worship: it represents the formless, incomparable Shiva who pervades everything, while remaining beyond all limiting descriptions. Saguna worship (form, mantra, ritual) becomes a doorway to realize the Nirguna truth indicated here—Shiva beyond ‘inside’ and ‘outside’.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A fitting practice is inward-outward pervasion meditation with the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya): contemplate Shiva in breath, body, and world, then release the duality of inner/outer. This aligns well with Mahashivratri japa, accompanied by Tripundra (bhasma) and Rudraksha as Shaiva disciplines.