Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 9

शिवतत्त्वे परापरभावविचारः

Inquiry into Śiva’s Principle and the Parā–Aparā Paradox

Devanagari script

स्वभावो विपरीतश्चेत्स्वतंत्रः स्वेच्छया यदि । न करोति किमीशानो नित्यानित्यविपर्ययम्

Transliteration

svabhāvo viparītaścetsvataṃtraḥ svecchayā yadi | na karoti kimīśāno nityānityaviparyayam

Translation

ଯଦି ଈଶାନଙ୍କ ସ୍ୱଭାବ ବିପରୀତ ହେଉଥାନ୍ତା ଏବଂ ସେ ସ୍ୱେଚ୍ଛାରେ ସ୍ୱାଧୀନଭାବେ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ କରୁଥାନ୍ତେ, ତେବେ ପରମେଶ୍ୱର ନିତ୍ୟ ଓ ଅନିତ୍ୟର ବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥାକୁ କାହିଁକି ଉଲଟାଇ ଦେଉନଥାନ୍ତେ?

Word by Word

• svabhāvaḥ: nature; inherent disposition
• svabhāvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svabhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• viparītaḥ: contrary; opposite
• viparītaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viparīta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) of svabhāvaḥ

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• cet: if
• cet: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/condition marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: cet (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्त-अव्यय (conditional particle)

• svatantraḥ: independent
• svatantraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svatantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective) of svabhāvaḥ

• sva-icchayā: by (his/one's) own will
• sva-icchayā: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + icchā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine) icchā, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): 'by one's own will'

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/condition marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्त-अव्यय (conditional particle)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• karoti: does; makes
• karoti: Kriyā (क्रिया/finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• kim: what
• kim: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम (interrogative pronoun)

• īśānaḥ: the Lord (Īśāna)
• īśānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• nitya-anitya-viparyayam: the inversion/confusion of eternal and non-eternal
• nitya-anitya-viparyayam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक) + anitya (प्रातिपदिक) + viparyaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine) viparyaya, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; समाहार/निर्देश-तत्पुरुष: 'reversal regarding the eternal and non-eternal'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It argues that Shiva’s sovereignty is not arbitrary: His freedom operates through His consistent, auspicious nature, preserving the right order between the eternal (nitya) and the transient (anitya), which supports a dependable path to liberation.

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

Linga worship approaches Shiva as the stable ground of reality and dharma; this verse reinforces that the Lord is not capricious, so devotion to Saguna Shiva (as Ishana) and the Linga is trust in a steady, grace-bestowing Lord who maintains cosmic order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Steady japa of the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a disciplined, non-whimsical mind—optionally supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa—aligns the devotee with Shiva’s ordered, liberating grace.