Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 18

अन्तराय-उपसर्ग-विवेचनम् / Analysis of Yogic Obstacles (Antarāyas) and Upasargas

Devanagari script

कृशता स्थूलता बाल्यं वार्धक्यं चैव यौवनम् । नानाचातिस्वरूपं च चतुर्णां देहधारणम्

Transliteration

kṛśatā sthūlatā bālyaṃ vārdhakyaṃ caiva yauvanam | nānācātisvarūpaṃ ca caturṇāṃ dehadhāraṇam

Translation

Maigreur, corpulence, enfance, vieillesse et jeunesse—avec d’innombrables états différenciés—tels sont les modes par lesquels la condition incarnée, en quatre aspects, revêt un corps.

Word by Word

• कृशता: thinness
• कृशता: Karta (कर्ता) / Enumerated item
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृश (प्रातिपदिक) + ता (तद्धित/भाव)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; abstract noun (भाववाचक)

• स्थूलता: stoutness
• स्थूलता: Karta (कर्ता) / Enumerated item
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थूल (प्रातिपदिक) + ता (तद्धित/भाव)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; abstract noun (भाववाचक)

• बाल्यम्: childhood
• बाल्यम्: Karta (कर्ता) / Enumerated item
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• वार्धक्यम्: old age
• वार्धक्यम्: Karta (कर्ता) / Enumerated item
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार्धक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण-निपात)

• यौवनम्: youth
• यौवनम्: Karta (कर्ता) / Enumerated item
• Type: Noun
• Root: यौवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• नाना: various
• नाना: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/indeclinable used adjectivally (अव्यय-विशेषण) meaning ‘various’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• अति-स्वरूपम्: very (distinct) form/appearance
• अति-स्वरूपम्: Karta (कर्ता) / Enumerated item
• Type: Noun
• Root: अति (अव्यय) + स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; अव्ययीभाव-समासः ‘अति स्वरूपम्’ = ‘excessive/very form’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• चतुर्णाम्: of the four
• चतुर्णाम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; numeral/pronominal declension

• देह-धारणम्: the bearing/assumption of a body
• देह-धारणम्: Karta (कर्ता) / Main noun
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक) + धारण (प्रातिपदिक; from धृ धातु)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; तत्पुरुष-समासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः) ‘देहस्य धारणम्’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights the instability of embodied existence—body-conditions continually change—encouraging the seeker to turn from identification with the body (pāśa) toward Shiva, the unchanging Pati, for liberation.

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

The Linga signifies the steady, changeless reality of Shiva amid changing bodily states; Saguna worship trains the mind to anchor devotion in Shiva rather than in transient physical conditions.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa supports disidentification from bodily change and steadiness in Shiva-bhakti.