Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 8

शक्तितत्त्ववर्णनम् / Exposition of the Principle of Śakti

Devanagari script

माया च प्रकृतिर्जीवो विकारो विकृतिस्तथा । असच्च सच्च यत्किंचित्तया सर्वमिदं ततम्

Transliteration

māyā ca prakṛtirjīvo vikāro vikṛtistathā | asacca sacca yatkiṃcittayā sarvamidaṃ tatam

Translation

మాయ, ప్రకృతి, జీవుడు, వికారం మరియు వికృతులు—అసత్ గానీ సత్ గానీ అని చెప్పబడే ఏదైనా—ఈ సమస్త జగత్తు ఆ శక్తిచే అంతటా వ్యాపించి ఉంది।

Word by Word

• माया: māyā / illusion-power
• माया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• प्रकृतिः: nature / prakṛti
• प्रकृतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) एकवचन

• जीवः: individual soul
• जीवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) एकवचन

• विकारः: modification
• विकारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) एकवचन

• विकृतिः: altered state / product
• विकृतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) एकवचन

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘also/likewise’)

• असत्: non-being / unreal
• असत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात

• सत्: being / real
• सत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) एकवचन

• यत्: whatever
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd) एकवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम

• किञ्चित्: anything / something
• किञ्चित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (निपात)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd) एकवचन; अनिश्चितार्थक-सर्वनाम

• तया: by her / by that (māyā)
• तया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental) एकवचन

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) एकवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) एकवचन

• ततम्: pervaded / spread
• ततम्: Kriyā (क्रिया; विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तन् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) → तत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: nurturing

FAQs

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

It teaches that the entire field of experience—soul, matter, and all changing states—operates under māyā’s pervasion; liberation arises by discerning this and turning toward Pati (Shiva), who transcends māyā while empowering it.

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

Linga-worship anchors the mind in Shiva as the transcendent Pati beyond the real/unreal play of māyā; through Saguna devotion one gains purity and clarity to recognize māyā’s scope and move toward Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate with Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") while applying Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and contemplating that all changing experiences belong to māyā; offer them inwardly to Shiva and rest in the awareness of Pati beyond change.