Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 53

शिवतत्त्वे परापरभावविचारः

Inquiry into Śiva’s Principle and the Parā–Aparā Paradox

Devanagari script

किमत्र बहुनोक्तेन नास्तिक्यं हेतुकारकम् । यथा ह्याशु निवर्तेत तथा कथय मारुत

Transliteration

kimatra bahunoktena nāstikyaṃ hetukārakam | yathā hyāśu nivarteta tathā kathaya māruta

Translation

ここで多くを語って何になろう。論争のための論争から生じる不信こそが、過ちの因である。マールタよ、それをいかにして速やかに止め得るか、語ってくれ。

Word by Word

• किम्: what
• किम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/interrogative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन; प्रश्न-सर्वनाम (interrogative)

• अत्र: here/in this matter
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• बहुना: with much (talk)
• बहुना: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental); एकवचन; (idiom: ‘with much [talk]’)

• उक्तेन: by what is said / by speech
• उक्तेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उक्त (प्रातिपदिक; √वच् क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental); एकवचन; (said words/speech)

• नास्तिक्यम्: atheism/denial
• नास्तिक्यम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नास्तिक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन

• हेतुकारकम्: cause-producing
• हेतुकारकम्: Pradhana (प्रधान/Predicate qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हेतु-कारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (हेतुः कारकः = cause-producing); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• यथा: so that/as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/manner marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (as/in such a way that)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (indeed/for)

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: āśu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: quickly)

• निवर्तेत: should cease/turn back
• निवर्तेत: Kriya (क्रिया/Subordinate verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-वृत् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd); एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; √वृत् with उपसर्ग नि (to turn back/cease)

• तथा: thus/in that way
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/correlative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus/in that way)

• कथय: tell (me)
• कथय: Kriya (क्रिया/Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative); मध्यमपुरुष (2nd); एकवचन; परस्मैपद; √कथ् (to tell)

• मारुत: O Māruta (Wind-god)
• मारुत: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मारुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative); एकवचन

Speaker

A seeker addressing Māruta (Vāyu) within the Vāyavīya-saṃhitā dialogue

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames doubt (nāstikya born of contentious hetu-vāda) as a spiritual obstacle; urges swift removal through proper teaching and orientation to Pati.

Characters & Entities

• Vayu (Maruta)

FAQs

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

It warns that endless argument can itself generate unbelief; the verse seeks a direct method to dissolve doubt quickly so the seeker can turn toward Shiva-centered realization (Pati) rather than remain trapped in pasha-like confusion.

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

By asking for a way to end doubt, it supports turning from dry debate to lived Shaiva practice—approaching Saguna Shiva through Linga-worship, devotion, and disciplined observance, which steady the mind and clarify faith.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to replace disputation with steady sādhanā—regular japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), along with Shaiva observances such as bhasma/tripuṇḍra and focused meditation to calm the mind and remove doubt.