Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 60

प्रणवविभागः—वेदस्वरूपत्वं लिङ्गे च प्रतिष्ठा

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

Devanagari script

सर्वकल्याणनिलयं शक्त्या तादृशयान्वितम् । ज्ञात्वा देवं विरूपाक्षं ब्रह्मनारायणौ तदा

Transliteration

sarvakalyāṇanilayaṃ śaktyā tādṛśayānvitam | jñātvā devaṃ virūpākṣaṃ brahmanārāyaṇau tadā

Translation

Alors Brahmā et Nārāyaṇa reconnurent le Dieu Virūpākṣa—demeure de toute auspiciosité et uni à une telle Śakti divine—et comprirent sa véritable divinité.

Word by Word

• सर्व-कल्याण-निलयम्: the abode of all auspiciousness
• सर्व-कल्याण-निलयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कल्याण (प्रातिपदिक) + निलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (Accusative); तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: ‘सर्वेषां कल्याणानां निलयः’ = abode of all auspiciousness)

• शक्त्या: by/with (his) power
• शक्त्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, तृतीया (3rd case/Instrumental)

• तादृशया: by such (power)
• तादृशया: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तादृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, तृतीया (Instrumental); ‘such (as that)’

• अन्वितम्: endowed (with)
• अन्वितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्वित (कृदन्त; अनु+√इ)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (Accusative) — ‘endowed/possessed’

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Absolutive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √ज्ञा (धातु) → ज्ञात्वा (क्त्वान्त अव्यय)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund): ‘having known/realized’

• देवम्: the god (Lord)
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (Accusative)

• विरूपाक्षम्: Virūpākṣa (the odd/unique-eyed Lord)
• विरूपाक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरूप (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (Accusative); बहुव्रीहि-समास: ‘विरूपे अक्षिणी यस्य’/‘whose eyes are extraordinary’ (epithet of Śiva)

• ब्रह्म: Brahmā
• ब्रह्म: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative); here as first member of dvandva with Nārāyaṇa

• नारायणौ: Nārāyaṇa (Viṣṇu) (as part of the pair)
• नारायणौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्विवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative); द्वन्द्वार्थे समुच्चय (with Brahmā: ‘Brahmā and Nārāyaṇa’)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb: then)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti
• Brahma
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches that true auspiciousness (kalyāṇa) rests in knowing Shiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord) inseparable from His Śakti—only then do even Brahmā and Vishnu comprehend His supremacy.

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

Virūpākṣa is approached as Saguna Shiva—knowable through His divine qualities and power (Śakti). Linga-worship similarly trains the mind to recognize Shiva as the auspicious ground of all welfare and liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as “sarva-kalyāṇa-nilaya” while repeating the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), contemplating Shiva and Śakti as non-different—this aligns devotion (bhakti) with right knowledge (jñāna).