Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 16

शिवस्य परापरब्रह्मस्वरूपनिर्णयः / Determination of Śiva as Higher and Lower Brahman

Devanagari script

व्यक्तिर्व्यावृत्तिरूपं तं पिण्डजातेः समाश्रयम् । जातयो व्यक्तयश्चैव तदाज्ञापरिपालिताः

Transliteration

vyaktirvyāvṛttirūpaṃ taṃ piṇḍajāteḥ samāśrayam | jātayo vyaktayaścaiva tadājñāparipālitāḥ

Translation

വ്യക്തി എന്നത് വ്യത്യാസ-പരിധിരൂപമായതും പിണ്ഡത്തെയും ജാതിയെയും ആശ്രയിക്കുന്നതുമാണ്. ജാതികളും വ്യക്തികളും എല്ലാം അവന്റെ (ശിവന്റെ) ആജ്ഞയാൽ നിയന്ത്രിക്കപ്പെടുകയും പോഷിക്കപ്പെടുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നു.

Word by Word

• व्यक्तिः: the individual (particular)
• व्यक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• व्यावृत्तिरूपम्: of the nature of differentiation/exclusion
• व्यावृत्तिरूपम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यावृत्ति + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying समाश्रयम्/implicit ‘भवति’)

• तम्: that
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; निर्देश (referring to the said entity)

• पिण्डजातेः: of the embodied genus (genus in the individual)
• पिण्डजातेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्डजाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• समाश्रयम्: support/abode
• समाश्रयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम् + आ + श्रि (धातु) + अप् (प्रत्यय) → समाश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; ‘आश्रय’ = आधार (support)

• जातयः: genera/universals
• जातयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन

• व्यक्तयः: individuals/particulars
• व्यक्तयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Upapada (सम्बन्ध/उपपद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha/Upapada (सम्बन्ध/उपपद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphasis)

• तत्: of that (his)
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying आज्ञा)

• आज्ञा: command
• आज्ञा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद (in compound)

• परिपालिताः: governed/maintained
• परिपालिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि + पाल् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय) → परिपालित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that all differentiated existence—individual beings and their classes—depends on a higher governing principle, ultimately Shiva (Pati), whose ordinance sustains cosmic order; recognizing this supports surrender and right knowledge leading toward liberation.

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

The Linga signifies Shiva as the transcendent ground and ruler of manifestation; worship of Saguna Shiva trains the mind to perceive that all forms and categories function under His ājñā, turning ordinary differentiation into contemplative recognition of the Lord’s sovereignty.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the inner governor (ājñādhāra) while repeating the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—cultivating śaraṇāgati (surrender) and steadiness; optionally support this with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of His ruling presence.