Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 54

योगप्रकारनिर्णयः

Classification and Definition of Yoga

Devanagari script

तथा शिवा परा ध्येया सर्वभूतगतौ शिवौ । तौ श्रुतौ स्मृतिशास्त्रेभ्यः सर्वगौ सर्वदोदितौ

Transliteration

tathā śivā parā dhyeyā sarvabhūtagatau śivau | tau śrutau smṛtiśāstrebhyaḥ sarvagau sarvadoditau

Translation

അതുപോലെ പരമ ശിവയെ ധ്യാനിക്കണം; സർവ്വഭൂതങ്ങളിലും വ്യാപിച്ചിരിക്കുന്ന ആ രണ്ടു ശിവന്മാരെയും ധ്യാനിക്കണം. ശ്രുതി‑സ്മൃതി‑ശാസ്ത്രങ്ങളിൽ പ്രസിദ്ധരായ അവർ സർവ്വവ്യാപികളും സർവ്വദാതാക്കളുമെന്നു പ്രഖ്യാപിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു.

Word by Word

• tathā: thus, likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/उपमानार्थक क्रियाविशेषण (indeclinable adverb: ‘thus/likewise’)

• śivā: Śivā (the Goddess)
• śivā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śivā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• parā: supreme
• parā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of śivā)

• dhyeyā: to be meditated upon
• dhyeyā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhyeya (कृदन्त; √dhyai ध्यै)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विधिलिङ्गार्थक/कर्तव्यतार्थक भाव: ‘ध्यातव्या’ (to be meditated upon)

• sarva-bhūta-gatau: present in all beings
• sarva-bhūta-gatau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (प्रातिपदिक) + gata (कृदन्त; √gam गम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (सर्वेषु भूतेषु गतौ = ‘gone/abiding in all beings’); विशेषण (of śivau)

• śivau: the two Śivas (Śiva and Śivā)
• śivau: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन

• tau: those two
• tau: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; सर्वनाम

• śrutau: heard (in revelation)
• śrutau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śruta (कृदन्त; √śru श्रु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle) ‘heard/declared’

• smṛti-śāstrebhyaḥ: from the Smṛtis and Śāstras
• smṛti-śāstrebhyaḥ: Apādāna (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: smṛti (प्रातिपदिक) + śāstra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (स्मृतयः च शास्त्राणि च)

• sarvagau: all-pervading
• sarvagau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + ga (प्रातिपदिक/उपपद; √gam गम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (सर्वत्र गच्छतः/व्याप्नुतः)

• sarvada-uditau: ever proclaimed/ever manifest
• sarvada-uditau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarvada (प्रातिपदिक) + udita (कृदन्त; √ud उद्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (सर्वदा उदितौ = ‘ever manifested/ever proclaimed’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; it broadens the dhyeya to include Parā Śivā and the all-pervading divine pair (śivau) attested by śruti-smṛti-śāstra.

Significance: Encourages contemplation of the omnipresent Śiva–Śakti reality as the giver of all attainments, integrating devotion with metaphysical pervasion.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that the Supreme Reality is to be contemplated as the all-pervading divine pair—Śiva with Śivā (Śakti)—present within every being, and that their grace is the source of all attainments, including liberation.

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

The Linga and other saguna forms provide a concrete support for meditation, leading the devotee to realize the same Śiva-Śakti principle described here as omnipresent and affirmed by Śruti and Smṛti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to dhyāna: steady contemplation of Śiva-Śakti as indwelling in all beings; this can be paired with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) as a focused meditative discipline.