Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 14

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

Devanagari script

यथा काष्ठेष्वनारूढो न वह्निरुपलभ्यते । एवं शिवो ऽपि मूर्त्यात्मन्यनारूढ इति स्थितिः

Transliteration

yathā kāṣṭheṣvanārūḍho na vahnirupalabhyate | evaṃ śivo 'pi mūrtyātmanyanārūḍha iti sthitiḥ

Translation

മരക്കഷണങ്ങളിൽ അഗ്നി ഉണ്ടായാലും അത് ജ്വലിക്കാതെ ഇരിക്കുമ്പോൾ ഗ്രഹിക്കപ്പെടില്ല. അതുപോലെ മൂർത്തിരൂപത്തിൽ പ്രത്യക്ഷപ്പെടാതെ ഇരിക്കുമ്പോൾ ശിവനും ഗ്രഹിക്കപ്പെടുകയില്ല—ഇതാണ് സ്ഥിരസിദ്ധാന്തം.

Word by Word

• यथा: as / just as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक (comparative particle: 'as')

• काष्ठेषु: in the pieces of wood
• काष्ठेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन

• अनारूढः: not entered / not mounted
• अनारूढः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्-आ-रुह् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; नञ्-पूर्वक (not mounted/entered)

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

• वह्निः: fire
• वह्निः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उपलभ्यते: is perceived / is found
• उपलभ्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (is obtained/perceived)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus)

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-निपात (also/even)

• मूर्त्यात्मनि: in the embodied form
• मूर्त्यात्मनि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; मूर्ति + आत्मन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (मूर्तिरूप आत्मा)

• अनारूढः: not entered
• अनारूढः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्-आ-रुह् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; नञ्-पूर्वक

• इति: thus / so
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्यसमाप्ति/उद्धरण-निपात (quotative)

• स्थितिः: the doctrine / state
• स्थितिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that the Supreme Pati (Śiva) is ever-present yet not grasped by ordinary perception until He is revealed through a suitable upāya (means)—such as divine grace, inner realization, or a manifest support for contemplation.

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

Like fire becomes knowable through its manifestation, the Nirguna Lord is approached through Saguna supports—especially the Śiva-liṅga and consecrated mūrtis—where the devotee can focus mind and devotion and thereby recognize the indwelling Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva with a tangible support (liṅga-dhyāna) while repeating the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” using vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and/or rudrākṣa as aids to steadiness and remembrance, so the unmanifest becomes experientially “manifest” in awareness.