Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 1

Devanagari script

वायुरुवाच । पुरुषाधिष्ठितात्पूर्वमव्यक्तादीश्वराज्ञया । बुद्ध्यादयो विशेषांता विकाराश्चाभवन् क्रमात्

Transliteration

vāyuruvāca | puruṣādhiṣṭhitātpūrvamavyaktādīśvarājñayā | buddhyādayo viśeṣāṃtā vikārāścābhavan kramāt

Translation

వాయువు అన్నాడు—పురుషాధిష్ఠాన ప్రవేశానికి ముందుగా, ఈశ్వర ఆజ్ఞచే అవ్యక్తం నుండి బుద్ధి మొదలుకొని విశేష (స్థూల తత్త్వాలు) వరకు వికారాలు క్రమంగా ఉద్భవించాయి.

Word by Word

• vāyuḥ: Vāyu
• vāyuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular

• puruṣa-adhiṣṭhitāt: from that which is presided over by Puruṣa
• puruṣa-adhiṣṭhitāt: Apādāna (अपादान/Ablative source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + adhiṣṭhita (कृदन्त; from √sthā with adhi-)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (पुरुषेण अधिष्ठितात्/पुरुषाधिष्ठितात्)

• pūrvam: previously/first
• pūrvam: Kāla (काल/Temporal adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (adverb)

• avyaktāt: from the unmanifest (Prakṛti)
• avyaktāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avyakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• īśvara-ājñayā: by the command of the Lord
• īśvara-ājñayā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक) + ājñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ईश्वरस्य आज्ञया)

• buddhi-ādayaḥ: buddhi and the rest
• buddhi-ādayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: buddhi (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (बुद्धिः आदिः येषां ते)

• viśeṣa-antāḥ: ending in the particulars (tanmātras etc.)
• viśeṣa-antāḥ: Karta-pradhāna viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (विशेषः अन्तः येषां ते)

• vikārāḥ: transformations/evolutes
• vikārāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vikāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (conjunction)

• abhavan: came into being
• abhavan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural

• kramāt: in sequence/gradually
• kramāt: Rīti (रीति/Adverbial manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative used adverbially (पञ्चमी-अर्थे अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः); ‘in order/gradually’

Speaker

Vayu

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Tatpuruṣa

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: tattva-pariṇāma (evolution) from avyakta: buddhi onward to viśeṣas

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara
• Purusha
• Avyakta
• Buddhi

FAQs

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

It presents creation as an ordered unfolding of tattvas under Īśvara’s command, implying that bondage and liberation depend on recognizing Pati (the Lord) as the true governor of prakṛti and its evolutes.

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

By stating that the evolutes arise through the Lord’s command, it supports Saguna Shiva devotion—worship of the Linga as the accessible sign of Īśvara who transcends yet directs the entire cosmos.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is tattva-śuddhi (purification of principles) through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and meditation on Īśvara as the inner ruler beyond buddhi and the changing vikāras.