Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 8

षडध्ववेदनम् (Ṣaḍadhva-vedanam) — The Sixfold Path: Sound, Meaning, and Tattva-Distribution

Devanagari script

सा विभागस्वरूपैव षडध्वात्मा विजृंभते । तत्र शब्दास्त्रयो ऽध्वानस्त्रयश्चार्थाः समीरिताः

Transliteration

sā vibhāgasvarūpaiva ṣaḍadhvātmā vijṛṃbhate | tatra śabdāstrayo 'dhvānastrayaścārthāḥ samīritāḥ

Translation

విభాగమూ క్రమవికాసమూ స్వభావమైన ఆ తత్త్వం, షడధ్వాత్మగా విస్తరించుచున్నది. అక్కడ శబ్దానికి మూడు ‘అధ్వ’లు, అర్థ/వస్తుత్వానికి మూడు ‘అధ్వ’లు అని ప్రకటించబడినవి.

Word by Word

• सा: she/that (entity)
• सा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• विभाग-स्वरूपा: having the nature of division
• विभाग-स्वरूपा: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विभाग+स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषणम् ‘सा’

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis particle)

• षड्-अध्व-आत्मा: whose essence is the six paths
• षड्-अध्व-आत्मा: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट्+अध्व+आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; बहुवचनार्थ-समासः ‘six paths as its essence’; विशेषणम् (of ‘सा’)

• विजृंभते: expands/manifests
• विजृंभते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि√जृम्भ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• तत्र: there/in that (context)
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• शब्दाः: sounds/words
• शब्दाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• त्रयः: three
• त्रयः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् ‘शब्दाः’

• अध्वानः: paths
• अध्वानः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• त्रयः: three
• त्रयः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् ‘अध्वानः’

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

• अर्थाः: meanings/objects
• अर्थाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• समीरिताः: are stated/declared
• समीरिताः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्√ईर् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past passive participle/कर्मणि), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames liberation in Shaiva Siddhanta terms: the universe unfolds through ordered “paths” of sound and meaning, and the seeker retraces this structure inward—through mantra, knowledge, and discernment—toward Pati (Shiva), the transcendent source beyond the manifested categories.

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

Linga-worship employs both paths: śabda (mantra, especially the Panchakshara) and artha (contemplating Shiva as the inner reality signified by the Linga). The verse supports Saguna practice as a disciplined route through manifested forms and meanings, leading toward realization of Shiva’s higher, unconditioned nature.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Mantra-japa with contemplative meaning: repeat “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” (śabda) while meditating on Shiva as the indwelling Lord who grants release from pāśa (bondage) (artha). This integrates sound-discipline with insight, a key Siddhanta approach.