Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 18

शिवतत्त्वे परापरभावविचारः

Inquiry into Śiva’s Principle and the Parā–Aparā Paradox

Devanagari script

सर्वानुग्राहकं प्राहुश्शिवं परमकारणम् । स निर्गृह्णाति देवानां सर्वानुग्राहकः कथम्

Transliteration

sarvānugrāhakaṃ prāhuśśivaṃ paramakāraṇam | sa nirgṛhṇāti devānāṃ sarvānugrāhakaḥ katham

Translation

เขาทั้งหลายกล่าวว่าพระศิวะเป็นเหตุสูงสุดและผู้ประทานพระกรุณาแก่สรรพชีวิต; แล้วพระผู้เปี่ยมเมตตานั้นจะทรงข่มปราบแม้เหล่าเทพได้อย่างไร?

Word by Word

• sarva-anugrāhakam: all-gracious; benefactor of all
• sarva-anugrāhakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva-anugrāhaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; qualifying śivam

• prāhuḥ: they have said
• prāhuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√ah (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ lakāra (perfect/लिट्), Parasmaipada, Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana (plural)

• śivam: Śiva
• śivam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• parama-kāraṇam: the supreme cause
• parama-kāraṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama-kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; in apposition to śivam

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana

• nirgṛhṇāti: restrains/seizes
• nirgṛhṇāti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-√grah (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (present), Parasmaipada, Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana

• devānām: of the gods
• devānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Bahuvacana

• sarva-anugrāhakaḥ: (being) the benefactor of all
• sarva-anugrāhakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva-anugrāhaka (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; predicate nominative of saḥ

• katham: how?
• katham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Adverbial qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; interrogative adverb (प्रश्नाव्यय)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights a key Shaiva teaching: Śiva’s grace is not mere indulgence. As Pati (the Lord), He grants upliftment through both anugraha (bestowal) and nigraha (restraint), curbing pride and karmic momentum even in divine beings so that dharma and liberation remain possible.

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

In Linga/Saguṇa worship, devotees approach Śiva as the compassionate Lord who also purifies through discipline. The verse supports the devotional understanding that obstacles, delays, or corrective experiences can be Śiva’s protective governance—His grace operating through restraint.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is humble surrender with japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") while applying Tripuṇḍra bhasma and cultivating self-restraint (niyama). This aligns one’s will to Śiva’s guidance, seeking grace that purifies rather than merely pleases.