Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 68

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

Devanagari script

अन्तरात्मपदे केचित्केचिदात्मपदे तथा । शान्त्यतीतपदे शैवाः शान्ते माहेश्वरे ततः

Transliteration

antarātmapade kecitkecidātmapade tathā | śāntyatītapade śaivāḥ śānte māheśvare tataḥ

Translation

काही शैव अंतरात्मपदात, तर काही आत्मपदात स्थित असतात. काही जण शांतीच्या पलीकडील पदात राहतात; आणि त्यानंतर शांत माहेश्वर पदात.

Word by Word

• antarātma-pade: in the state of the Inner Self
• antarātma-pade: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antar-ātman + pada (अन्तरात्मपद प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (अन्तरात्मनः पदे)

• kecit: some
• kecit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kecit (केचित् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; अनिश्चित-सर्वनाम

• kecit: some
• kecit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kecit (केचित् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; अनिश्चित-सर्वनाम

• ātma-pade: in the state of the Self
• ātma-pade: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman + pada (आत्मपद प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (आत्मनः पदे)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: 'likewise')

• śānti-atīta-pade: in the state beyond peace
• śānti-atīta-pade: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śānti + atīta + pada (शान्त्यतीतपद प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (शान्तेः अतीतम् = शान्त्यतीतम्; तस्मिन् पदे)

• śaivāḥ: Śaivas (followers of Śiva)
• śaivāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaiva (शैव प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• śānte: in peace/in the peaceful state
• śānte: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śānta (शान्त प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• māheśvare: in the Maheśvara (Śiva-related) [state]
• māheśvare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: māheśvara (माहेश्वर प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying implied 'pada')

• tataḥ: thereafter/then
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: 'then/thereafter/from there')

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Maheśvara)

FAQs

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

It outlines graded Shaiva realizations—moving from inner-self contemplation to deeper identity with the Self, then transcending even the notion of peace, culminating in repose in the Maheśvara (Lord-centered) state, a Siddhanta-friendly map of ascent toward liberation under Pati (Shiva).

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

The sequence implies that Saguna worship (such as Linga-upasana) can mature into inner absorption: devotion refines the mind toward the antarātman and ātman, and ultimately stabilizes in Maheśvara—where the devotee’s consciousness rests in Shiva as the supreme Lord (Pati) rather than merely external form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is sustained Shiva-dhyana: japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with inward turning (antar-mukhatā), supported by Shaiva disciplines like Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and Rudrāksha, to cultivate tranquility and then transcend attachment even to meditative ‘peace’ as a final object.