Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

ये पुनर्निग्रहाः केचिद्ब्रह्मादिषु निदर्शिताः । ते ऽपि लोकहितायैव कृताः श्रीकण्ठमूर्तिना

Transliteration

ye punarnigrahāḥ kecidbrahmādiṣu nidarśitāḥ | te 'pi lokahitāyaiva kṛtāḥ śrīkaṇṭhamūrtinā

Translation

ബ്രഹ്മാദി ദേവന്മാരോടും കാണിച്ച ഏതെല്ലാം നിഗ്രഹങ്ങൾ (സംയമം/ശിക്ഷ) ഉണ്ടോ, അവയും ശ്രീകണ്ഠമൂർത്തിയായ ശിവൻ ലോകഹിതത്തിനായി മാത്രമേ ചെയ്തുള്ളൂ।

Word by Word

• ये: which (those)
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम

• पुनः: again, further
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्ति/पुनः (again/further)

• निग्रहाः: restraints, chastisements
• निग्रहाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) (of निग्रहाः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; अनिश्चित-सर्वनाम (some)

• ब्रह्म-आदि-षु: among Brahmā and others
• ब्रह्म-आदि-षु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन; ब्रह्मादयः (Brahmā and others) इति तत्पुरुषः; अधिकरण (in/among)

• निदर्शिताः: shown, indicated
• निदर्शिताः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa / Predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + दृश् (धातु) + क्त → निदर्शित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि (past passive participle: shown/indicated)

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

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

• लोक-हिताय: for the welfare of the world
• लोक-हिताय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान) (for the benefit of)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + हित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; हि धातु + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (लोकस्य हितम्)

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (only/indeed)

• कृताः: were done/made
• कृताः: Kriyā (क्रिया) (passive predication)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त → कृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि (past passive participle: done/made)

• श्रीकण्ठ-मूर्तिना: by the form of Śrīkaṇṭha
• श्रीकण्ठ-मूर्तिना: Karaṇa (करण) / Agent-instrumental (कर्तृ-तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीकण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (श्रीकण्ठस्य मूर्तिः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Nīlakaṇṭha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga-sthala passage; the verse frames Śiva’s corrective acts (nigraha) toward even Brahmā and other devas as loka-hita (world-welfare), i.e., grace through discipline.

Significance: Establishes the doctrinal attitude that divine chastisement is medicinal and purificatory; inspires trust in Śiva’s governance as compassionate anugraha.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva’s acts of correction are not anger-driven but compassionate governance—restraint applied even to high beings to protect dharma and ensure the welfare of all worlds.

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

Śrīkaṇṭha is Saguna Śiva—the accessible Lord who actively guides creation. Linga-worship honors this same Pati whose grace includes both protection and corrective restraint to steady devotees and the cosmos.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt a devotional attitude of accepting Śiva’s discipline as grace: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with humility, along with simple Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) application as a reminder of dharma and self-restraint.