Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 44

प्रणवविभागः—वेदस्वरूपत्वं लिङ्गे च प्रतिष्ठा

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

Devanagari script

वाच्यवाचकयोर्भेदो नात्यंतं विद्यते यतः । चिंतया रहितो रुद्रो वाचोयन्मनसा सह

Transliteration

vācyavācakayorbhedo nātyaṃtaṃ vidyate yataḥ | ciṃtayā rahito rudro vācoyanmanasā saha

Translation

Kerana perbezaan antara yang dimaksudkan (yang ditandai) dan yang menyatakannya (penanda) tidaklah mutlak, maka Rudra—bebas daripada fikiran konseptual—melampaui ucapan, bersama-sama minda.

Word by Word

• वाच्य-वाचकयोः: of the signified and the signifier
• वाच्य-वाचकयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच्य + वाचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (वाच्यश्च वाचकश्च = the expressible and the expresser)

• भेदः: difference
• भेदः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• अत्यन्तम्: completely/absolutely
• अत्यन्तम्: Prakara (प्रकार/Extent)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्यन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोग (adverbial accusative); नपुंसक द्वितीया एकवचन रूप

• विद्यते: exists/is found
• विद्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु) (विद्=सत्तायाम्/ज्ञाने) → √विद् (सत्तायाम्)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; भावे प्रयोग (exists)

• यतः: because
• यतः: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ (because/since)

• चिन्तया: by thought/with thinking
• चिन्तया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिन्ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• रहितः: devoid (of)
• रहितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तृतीया-सम्बन्ध (X-रहित = devoid of X)

• रुद्रः: Rudra
• रुद्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वाचः: of speech
• वाचः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• यत्: which/that which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• मनसा: by mind
• मनसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahartha (सहार्थ/Association)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक (with)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya philosophical teaching to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Rudra (Pati) is not fully captured by language or conceptual mind; liberation matures when the seeker moves from verbal/mental constructions to direct awareness of Shiva’s transcendent reality.

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

Linga worship uses form, mantra, and symbol to steady devotion, yet this verse reminds the devotee that the ultimate Rudra indicated by those forms is beyond the mind’s concepts and beyond speech—Saguna worship pointing to Nirguna truth.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) leading into silent contemplation (mauna), letting the mantra draw the mind inward until speech and thought subside in Shiva-awareness.