Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 29

सर्‍वेश्वर-परमकारण-निरूपणम् / The Supreme Lord as the Uncaused Cause

Devanagari script

बहुनात्र किमुक्तेन गुह्याद्गुह्यतरं परम् । शिवे भक्तिर्न सन्देहस्तया युक्तो विमुच्यते

Transliteration

bahunātra kimuktena guhyādguhyataraṃ param | śive bhaktirna sandehastayā yukto vimucyate

Translation

ഇവിടെ അധികം പറയേണ്ടതെന്ത്? ഗുഹ്യത്തേക്കാളും ഗുഹ്യമായ പരമ രഹസ്യം ഇതുതന്നെ—ശിവഭക്തി; ഇതിൽ സംശയമില്ല. ആ ഭക്തിയോടെ യുക്തനായവൻ മോചിതനാകുന്നു.

Word by Word

• बहुना: with much (talk)
• बहुना: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (or पुंलिङ्ग as substantive), तृतीया, एकवचन; करणार्थे (instrumental: "by much")

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa) / क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of place)

• किम्: what?
• किम्: प्रश्न (Interrogative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक-सर्वनाम

• उक्तेन: by what is said; by speech
• उक्तेन: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उक्त (प्रातिपदिक; √वच् (धातु) से क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त ("said/statement")

• गुह्यात्: than the secret
• गुह्यात्: अपादान (Apādāna)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; अपादान (ablative)

• गुह्यतरम्: more secret
• गुह्यतरम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुह्यतर (प्रातिपदिक; तरप्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तुलनात्मक (comparative)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शिवे: in/unto Śiva
• शिवे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• भक्तिः: devotion
• भक्तिः: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृ/विषय (subject)

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• सन्देहः: doubt
• सन्देहः: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वाक्यांश ("no doubt")

• तया: by that (devotion)
• तया: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण (instrumental)

• युक्तः: endowed; joined
• युक्तः: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त (प्रातिपदिक; √युज् (धातु) से क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; विशेषण ("endowed/connected")

• विमुच्यते: is liberated; is released
• विमुच्यते: क्रिया (Verb); कर्ता = "युक्तः"
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि√मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya within the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Declares bhakti to Śiva as the ‘supreme secret’ leading to mokṣa—framing pilgrimage, pūjā, and vrata as efficacious when suffused with devotion and culminating in grace.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares that the highest esoteric truth is not merely hidden knowledge but steadfast devotion to Śiva; when the soul (paśu) is joined to Śiva through bhakti and His grace, the bonds (pāśa) are cut and liberation results.

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

Bhakti to Śiva is typically cultivated through accessible Saguna forms—especially Liṅga worship, mantra, and pūjā—by which the devotee’s mind becomes one-pointed; this mature devotion becomes the direct means for Śiva’s liberating grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse points to sustained Śiva-bhakti in practice—daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), Liṅga-abhisheka with reverence, and meditation on Śiva as Pati—so that devotion becomes unwavering and liberation-oriented.