Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 13

अनुग्रह-स्वातन्त्र्य-प्रमाणविचारः | Inquiry into Pramāṇa, Divine Autonomy, and Grace

Devanagari script

आत्मोपमोल्वणं साक्षान्मूर्तिरेव हि काचन । शिवस्य मूर्तिर्मूर्त्यात्मा परस्तस्योपलक्षणम्

Transliteration

ātmopamolvaṇaṃ sākṣānmūrtireva hi kācana | śivasya mūrtirmūrtyātmā parastasyopalakṣaṇam

Translation

まことに、ある顕現した形相は直に知覚され、自己に照らして比べ知ることができる。形相そのものを本質とするシヴァの御姿は、至高（超越のシヴァ）を識るためのしるしとなる。

Word by Word

• आत्मोपमोल्वणम्: intense, comparable to the Self
• आत्मोपमोल्वणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्म-उपम-उल्वण (प्रातिपदिक; आत्म + उपम + उल्वण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (आत्मोपमं च उल्वणं च/आत्मोपम-उल्वणम् = 'self-like and intense')

• साक्षात्: directly / manifestly
• साक्षात्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण/विशेषणार्थे (directly, manifestly)

• मूर्तिः: a form / embodiment
• मूर्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एव: indeed / only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphasis/causal)

• काचन: some (one)
• काचन: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अनिश्चयवाचक सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun)

• शिवस्य: of Śiva
• शिवस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मूर्तिः: the form
• मूर्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मूर्त्यात्मा: whose essence is form / embodied in form
• मूर्त्यात्मा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूर्ति-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; मूर्ति + आत्मन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (मूर्तिः आत्मा यस्य/मूर्तिरूप आत्मा)

• परस्तस्य: of the supreme (one)
• परस्तस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of the supreme/other)

• उपलक्षणम्: an indicator / mark
• उपलक्षणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपलक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that Shiva’s manifest form (saguṇa) is a direct, graspable support for devotion and contemplation, and it functions as an indicator by which the seeker recognizes the transcendent Supreme Shiva beyond form.

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

It supports the Shaiva Siddhanta approach that worship of Shiva’s form—especially the Linga as a sacred, perceivable focus—leads the devotee from tangible devotion toward realization of the Supreme who ultimately transcends all limiting forms.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use a visible support for contemplation—such as Shiva-linga or murti darshan—while repeating the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), treating the form as a sacred sign that points the mind to Parashiva beyond form.