Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 41

अन्तराय-उपसर्ग-विवेचनम् / Analysis of Yogic Obstacles (Antarāyas) and Upasargas

Devanagari script

तत्पौरुषं च गौणं च गणेशं पदमैश्वरम् । विष्णुना तत्पदं किंचिज्ज्ञातुमन्यैर्न शक्यते

Transliteration

tatpauruṣaṃ ca gauṇaṃ ca gaṇeśaṃ padamaiśvaram | viṣṇunā tatpadaṃ kiṃcijjñātumanyairna śakyate

Translation

ସେଇ ଐଶ୍ୱର୍ୟମୟ ପରମ ପଦ—ମୁଖ୍ୟ ଓ ଗୌଣ ଉଭୟ ଅର୍ଥରେ—ଗଣେଶଙ୍କର ହିଁ। ସେହି ଅବସ୍ଥାକୁ ବିଷ୍ଣୁ ମଧ୍ୟ କେବଳ କିଛିଅଂଶ ଯାଏଁ ଜାଣିପାରନ୍ତି; ଅନ୍ୟମାନେ ସର୍ବଥା ଜାଣିପାରନ୍ତି ନାହିଁ।

Word by Word

• tat-pauruṣam: that (related) manly/pertaining to that person
• tat-pauruṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + pauruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: तस्य पौरुषम्)

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

• gauṇam: secondary/figurative
• gauṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gauṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• gaṇeśam: Gaṇeśa
• gaṇeśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇeśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• padam: state/position/footing
• padam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• aiśvaram: lordly/divine
• aiśvaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aiśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'padam' इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• viṣṇunā: by Viṣṇu
• viṣṇunā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• tat-padam: that state/that position
• tat-padam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: तस्य पदम्)

• kiṃcit: somewhat/a little
• kiṃcit: Visheshaṇa (विशेषण/quantifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kiṃcit (अव्यय/सर्वनाम-नपुंसक)
• Form: परिमाण/अल्पार्थक-अव्यय (indefinite: 'a little/something')

• jñātum: to know
• jñātum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitival purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jñā (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive), कर्तरि प्रयोग; अर्थः—'ज्ञातुं' = to know

• anyaiḥ: by others
• anyaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; 'विष्णुना' इत्यस्य सह तुल्य-करणकर्तृनिर्देशः

• na: not
• na: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• śakyate: is possible/can be done
• śakyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śak (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Ganesha
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches that the highest divine state is not fully grasped by ordinary cognition; it is a matter of lordly realization, approached through grace, devotion, and inner purification rather than mere reasoning.

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

By distinguishing primary and secondary understanding, the verse supports Saguna worship (forms and attributes) as a valid approach while pointing beyond it to the essential reality—ultimately realized through Shiva’s grace, with Gaṇeśa honored as the gateway to auspicious understanding.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Begin worship with Gaṇeśa-vandana, then steady the mind with japa (especially the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and contemplative inquiry into the Lord’s sovereignty, recognizing the limits of intellect and relying on bhakti.