Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 24

शिवशक्त्यैक्य-तत्त्वविचारः / Inquiry into the Unity of Śiva and Śakti

Para–Apara Ontology

Devanagari script

सत्त्वं रजस्तमश्चेति यैर्व्याप्तमखिलं जगत् । गुणेभ्यः क्षोभ्यमाणेभ्यो गुणेशाख्यास्त्रिमूर्तयः

Transliteration

sattvaṃ rajastamaśceti yairvyāptamakhilaṃ jagat | guṇebhyaḥ kṣobhyamāṇebhyo guṇeśākhyāstrimūrtayaḥ

Translation

Sattva, rajas dan tamas—itulah sifat-sifat yang meresapi seluruh alam semesta. Dan daripada guṇa-guṇa itu, apabila digerakkan dan bergelora, lahirlah tiga rupa (Trimūrti), yang dikenali sebagai para Penguasa guṇa.

Word by Word

• सत्त्वम्: sattva
• सत्त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Listed item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रजः: rajas
• रजः: Karta (कर्ता/Listed item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तमः: tamas
• तमः: Karta (कर्ता/Listed item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्ति-सूचक (quotative particle)

• यैः: by which
• यैः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (त्रयाणां गुणानां समाहार-निर्देश), तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम

• व्याप्तम्: pervaded
• व्याप्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + आप् (धातु) → व्याप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying जगत्)

• अखिलम्: entire
• अखिलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• जगत्: world
• जगत्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject of implied ‘is pervaded’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गुणेभ्यः: from the guṇas
• गुणेभ्यः: Apādāna (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• क्षोभ्यमाणेभ्यः: being agitated
• क्षोभ्यमाणेभ्यः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षुभ् (धातु) → क्षोभ्यमाण (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying गुणेभ्यः)

• गुणेशाख्याः: called ‘Guṇeśa’
• गुणेशाख्याः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of त्रिमूर्तयः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; नामधारक-विशेषण (having the name)

• त्रिमूर्तयः: the three forms (Trimūrti)
• त्रिमूर्तयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास (three-forms)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: guṇa-kṣobha leading to functional deities (trimūrti)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches that worldly experience is structured by the three guṇas, and that cosmic governance (the Trimūrti functions) manifests when these guṇas become active—pointing the seeker toward transcending guṇic bondage to realize Pati (Shiva) beyond limitation.

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

The verse frames Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Rudra as guṇa-governed cosmic functions; worship of the Liṅga centers the devotee on Shiva as the supreme Lord (Pati) who can grant grace to rise beyond the guṇas, even while honoring Saguna manifestations within creation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate the play of sattva-rajas-tamas in mind and conduct japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to purify and transcend the guṇas, supporting steady dhyāna on Shiva.