Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 78

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

Devanagari script

अनाश्रितान्तैरध्वान्तर्वर्तिभिस्समधिष्ठिताः । ते हि साक्षाद्दिविषदस्त्वन्तरिक्षसदस्तथा

Transliteration

anāśritāntairadhvāntarvartibhissamadhiṣṭhitāḥ | te hi sākṣāddiviṣadastvantarikṣasadastathā

Translation

それらは、諸世界の道の内を巡行し、いずれの境界や定まった住処にも依らぬ者たちによって統べられる。まことに彼らは、直に天に住する神々であり、また中間界（大気）に住する者たちでもある。

Word by Word

• अनाश्रित-अन्तैः: with unsupported ends
• अनाश्रित-अन्तैः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनाश्रित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √श्रि with आ-) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘अनाश्रितः अन्तः येषाम्’ (having unbased/unsupported ends)

• अध्व-अन्तर-वर्तिभिः: by those dwelling in the intermediate paths
• अध्व-अन्तर-वर्तिभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्वन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्तिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘अध्वान्तरे वर्तिनः’ = ‘those dwelling in the intermediate paths/regions’

• समधिष्ठिताः: are duly presided over
• समधिष्ठिताः: क्रियाविशेषण/विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+अधि√स्था (धातु; स्था—स्थितौ)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘well presided over/occupied’

• ते: they
• ते: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थ (particle)

• साक्षात्: directly
• साक्षात्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘directly/manifestly’

• दिविषदः: heaven-dwellers (gods)
• दिविषदः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिविषद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘dwellers in heaven’

• तु: but/and
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेष (contrastive particle)

• अन्तरिक्ष-सदः: mid-region dwellers
• अन्तरिक्ष-सदः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तरिक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + सद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘अन्तरिक्षे सदः’ = ‘dwellers in the mid-region’

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: सम्बन्ध (Adverbial particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/उपमान (adverb: likewise/also)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: adhvan (cosmic paths) governance by moving deities (gati-based administration of realms)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It points to the ordered governance of the cosmos by divine intelligences moving through the world-paths, implying that all realms function under higher supervision ultimately rooted in Pati (Shiva) as the supreme regulator.

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

By describing celestial and atmospheric deities as manifest administrators, the verse supports Saguna devotion: worship of Shiva as the supreme Lord who empowers all devas, with the Linga serving as the accessible focus for recognizing that supreme sovereignty behind cosmic order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as Pati who pervades and governs all paths (adhvan) while repeating the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), cultivating inner steadiness amid changing realms and forces.