Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 72
शिवशक्त्यैक्य-तत्त्वविचारः / Inquiry into the Unity of Śiva and Śakti
Para–Apara Ontology
यथाप्रज्ञमिदं कृष्ण याथात्म्यं परमेशयोः । कथितं हि मया ते ऽद्य न तु तावदियत्तया
yathāprajñamidaṃ kṛṣṇa yāthātmyaṃ parameśayoḥ | kathitaṃ hi mayā te 'dya na tu tāvadiyattayā
Ô Kṛṣṇa, selon ta capacité de comprendre, je t’ai aujourd’hui exposé la vraie nature et la grandeur du Seigneur Suprême ; mais cela n’a pas été dit dans toute son étendue ni sa mesure totale.
A sage-narrator in the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā addressing Kṛṣṇa (dialogue frame within the Vayu Samhita tradition)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches that Parameśvara’s reality is immeasurable; instruction is given according to the seeker’s adhikāra (capacity), implying humility, gradual revelation, and reverent contemplation of Shiva’s transcendence.
It supports the Shaiva Siddhanta view that while Shiva is ultimately beyond measure (para), devotees approach Him through accessible forms and teachings (saguna), such as Linga worship, suited to their level of understanding.
A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with devotion, letting understanding mature progressively rather than forcing intellectual completeness.