Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 38

प्रणवविभागः—वेदस्वरूपत्वं लिङ्गे च प्रतिष्ठा

The Division of Oṃ, Its Vedic Forms, and Its Placement in the Liṅga

Devanagari script

मयाभिधीयते तस्मादध्वातीतपदोस्म्यहम् । अध्वात्मकं तु त्रितयं शिवविद्यात्मसंज्ञितम्

Transliteration

mayābhidhīyate tasmādadhvātītapadosmyaham | adhvātmakaṃ tu tritayaṃ śivavidyātmasaṃjñitam

Translation

അതുകൊണ്ട് ഞാൻ പ്രസ്താവിക്കുന്നു—ഞാൻ അധ്വങ്ങളെ അതീതമായ പദത്തിൽ സ്ഥാപിതനാണ്; അധ്വസ്വഭാവമായ ആ ത്രയം ‘ശിവവിദ്യാ’യുടെ ആത്മസാരമായി അറിയപ്പെടുന്നു।

Word by Word

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• अभिधीयते: is stated/declared
• अभिधीयते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि+√धा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनामजन्य-अव्यय; पञ्चमी-अर्थे (ablatival adverb): therefore/from that

• अध्व-अतीत-पदः: one whose state is beyond the paths (adhvan)
• अध्व-अतीत-पदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अतीत (कृदन्त, √इ (धातु) क्त) + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; बहुपद-समास (determinative)

• अस्मि: I am
• अस्मि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; त्रिलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• अध्व-आत्मकम्: consisting of the paths (adhvan)
• अध्व-आत्मकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अध्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अन्वय (but/indeed)

• त्रितयम्: the triad
• त्रितयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रितय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• शिव-विद्या-आत्म-संज्ञितम्: designated as ‘Śiva-vidyā-ātman’
• शिव-विद्या-आत्म-संज्ञितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + विद्या (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्म (प्रातिपदिक) + संज्ञित (कृदन्त, √ज्ञा (धातु) क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण (त्रितयम्)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It states that Śiva is “adhvātīta”—beyond the manifested cosmic pathways—while the mapped structure of those pathways (the triad) belongs to Śiva-vidyā, the knowledge that leads the bound soul (paśu) beyond bondage (pāśa) to liberation.

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

Linga-worship supports the seeker in approaching the transcendent (nirguṇa) Śiva through a sacred form (saguṇa). The verse clarifies that the ultimate reality of Śiva is beyond all manifested categories, even while devotees engage the divine through symbol and ritual.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Śiva as beyond all tattvas and cosmic routes while reciting the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), using japa and inner meditation to move from form-based devotion toward Śiva-vidyā (liberating insight).