Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

ईशेच्छा च विधातृत्वं विधेराज्ञापनं परम् । आज्ञावश्यमिदं कुर्यान्न कुर्यादिति शासनम्

Transliteration

īśecchā ca vidhātṛtvaṃ vidherājñāpanaṃ param | ājñāvaśyamidaṃ kuryānna kuryāditi śāsanam

Translation

主（Īśa）の御意志そのものが、制定し命ずる力となる。宇宙の制定者ブラフマーにとっても、御命令は最上である。その命令のもとにのみ、「これを為すべし、これは為すべからず」という統御の勅が成り立つ。

Word by Word

• īśa-icchā: the Lord’s will
• īśa-icchā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśa (प्रातिपदिक) + icchā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (īśasya icchā)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; samuccaya (conjunction)

• vidhātṛtvam: the status/power of ordaining
• vidhātṛtvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhātṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + -tva (प्रत्यय)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; abstract noun 'the state of being a disposer/creator'

• vidheḥ: of the ordinance / of Brahmā (the ordainer)
• vidheḥ: Sambandha/Genitive (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th/षष्ठी), Ekavacana

• ājñāpanam: the act of commanding
• ājñāpanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ājñāpana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; 'commanding/ordering'

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; agrees with ājñāpanam

• ājñā-vaśyam: obedience to command
• ājñā-vaśyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ājñā (प्रातिपदिक) + vaśya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'obedience/subjection to command' (ājñāyāḥ vaśyam)

• idam: this
• idam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; deictic pronoun

• kuryāt: should do
• kuryāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; niṣedha-nipāta (negation particle)

• kuryāt: should do
• kuryāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana; parasmaipada (elliptic repetition in 'na kuryāt')

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थ-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; quotative particle (इति-निपात)

• śāsanam: the injunction / command
• śāsanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; 'rule/command/injunction'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It establishes Shiva (Īśa) as the ultimate source of cosmic governance: even Brahmā’s creative ordinances function under Shiva’s supreme command, teaching surrender to the Lord’s will as the root of right action and liberation.

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

Linga-worship honors Shiva as the transcendent Pati who empowers all functions of creation and law; devotion to Saguna Shiva trains the devotee to align one’s ‘do’ and ‘do not’ with the Lord’s ājñā rather than ego-driven impulses.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice ājñā-anusandhāna (mindful obedience): before japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” resolve to follow dharma, restrain forbidden actions, and offer all deeds to Shiva as His command.