Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 14

शिवस्य परापरब्रह्मस्वरूपनिर्णयः / Determination of Śiva as Higher and Lower Brahman

Devanagari script

तयोः कारणभावेन शिवं परमकारणम् । कारणार्थविदः प्राहुः समष्टिव्यष्टिकारणम्

Transliteration

tayoḥ kāraṇabhāvena śivaṃ paramakāraṇam | kāraṇārthavidaḥ prāhuḥ samaṣṭivyaṣṭikāraṇam

Translation

Par rapport à ces deux comme à leur fondement causal, Śiva est proclamé la Cause suprême. Ceux qui comprennent réellement le principe de la causalité disent qu’Il est la cause à la fois du tout (la totalité cosmique) et du particulier (les êtres individuels).

Word by Word

• तयोः: of those two
• तयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), द्विवचन; सर्वनाम

• कारणभावेन: by (their) causal status
• कारणभावेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारणभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; हेतौ/भावे (as the state of being a cause)

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• परमकारणम्: the supreme cause
• परमकारणम्: Karma/Predicate (कर्म/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विधेय-नाम (predicate noun)

• कारणार्थविदः: knowers of the meaning of ‘cause’
• कारणार्थविदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारणार्थविद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; ‘विद्’ = जानन्/ज्ञाता (knower)

• प्राहुः: declare/say
• प्राहुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• समष्टिव्यष्टिकारणम्: the cause of the aggregate and the individual
• समष्टिव्यष्टिकारणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समष्टि + व्यष्टि + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; समष्टेः व्यष्टेः च कारणम् (cause of aggregate and individual)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes Shiva (Pati) as the ultimate causal ground—governing both the cosmic totality and individual existence—so liberation is gained by turning the mind from secondary causes to the Supreme Cause.

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

Linga worship focuses devotion on Shiva as the source and support of all manifestation; by worshipping the Saguna form, the devotee approaches the Nirguna reality that is the true cause behind both macrocosm (samaṣṭi) and microcosm (vyaṣṭi).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Shiva as parama-kāraṇa while japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) is performed, offering the sense of individual doership into Him as the cause of both the whole and the individual.