Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 24

पशु-पाश-पतिविचारः / Inquiry into Paśu, Pāśa, and Pati

Devanagari script

अणोरणीयान्महतो महीयानयमव्ययः । गुहायां निहितश्चापि जंतोरस्य महेश्वरः

Transliteration

aṇoraṇīyānmahato mahīyānayamavyayaḥ | guhāyāṃ nihitaścāpi jaṃtorasya maheśvaraḥ

Translation

ଏହି ଅବ୍ୟୟ ମହେଶ୍ୱର ଅଣୁଠାରୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ସୂକ୍ଷ୍ମ ଓ ମହତ୍ଠାରୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ମହାନ; ଦେହଧାରୀ ଜୀବର ହୃଦୟ-ଗୁହାରେ ସେ ଅନ୍ତର୍ୟାମୀ ପ୍ରଭୁ ଭାବେ ନିହିତ।

Word by Word

• अणोः: of the minute (atom)
• अणोः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अणु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; ‘अणु’ = atom/minute (genitive: ‘of the minute’)

• अणीयान्: smaller (more minute)
• अणीयान्: कर्ता (कर्तृपद-विशेषण/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अणीयस् (प्रातिपदिक; तुलनात्मक/Comparative)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तुलनात्मक (comparative)

• महतः: of the great
• महतः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; ‘of the great’

• महीयान्: greater (mightier)
• महीयान्: कर्ता (कर्तृपद-विशेषण/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महीयस् (प्रातिपदिक; तुलनात्मक/Comparative)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तुलनात्मक (comparative)

• अयम्: this (one)
• अयम्: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• अव्ययः: imperishable
• अव्ययः: कर्ता (कर्तृपद-विशेषण/Subject-complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective)

• गुहायाम्: in the cave (heart-cave)
• गुहायाम्: अधिकरण (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुहा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• निहितः: placed, hidden
• निहितः: कर्ता (कर्तृपद-विशेषण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि-धा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्भावना/अपि-भाव (also/even)

• जन्तोः: of the being
• जन्तोः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; ‘of the creature’

• अस्य: of this (one)
• अस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• महेश्वरः: Mahādeva, the Great Lord
• महेश्वरः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (महान् ईश्वरः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva (Maheśvara) is both transcendent and immanent—beyond all measures yet residing within the heart as the inner ruler; liberation arises from recognizing Him as the imperishable Pati within the pashu (individual soul).

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

Linga-worship externalizes the formless, immeasurable Lord into a sacred focus; this verse adds that the same Maheśvara is also inwardly present, so outer worship (saguna upāsanā) should mature into inner contemplation of the heart-dwelling Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva in the “heart-cave” with japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), aligning breath and attention inward; let external supports like bhasma/tripuṇḍra and rudrākṣa reinforce remembrance of the indwelling Maheśvara.