Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 13

पशुपाशपतिज्ञान-प्राप्तिः

Acquisition of Paśupati–Pāśa Knowledge

Devanagari script

अक्षरं च क्षरं चैव क्षराक्षरपरं तथा । तदेतत्त्रितयं भूम्ना कथ्यते तत्त्ववेदिभिः

Transliteration

akṣaraṃ ca kṣaraṃ caiva kṣarākṣaraparaṃ tathā | tadetattritayaṃ bhūmnā kathyate tattvavedibhiḥ

Translation

ทั้งอักษระ (ผู้ไม่เสื่อม) และกษระ (ผู้เสื่อม) และสิ่งที่อยู่เหนือทั้งกษระ–อักษระ—ตรีภาวะนี้เหล่านักรู้ตัตตวะประกาศตามความไพศาลแห่งมหิมา

Word by Word

• akṣaram: the imperishable (akṣara)
• akṣaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-kṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; nominative/accusative singular (neuter)

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

• kṣaram: the perishable (kṣara)
• kṣaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; nominative/accusative singular (neuter)

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

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• kṣara-akṣara-param: that which is beyond kṣara and akṣara
• kṣara-akṣara-param: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣara (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक) + para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः—‘क्षराक्षरयोः परम्’ (that which is beyond the perishable and imperishable)

• tathā: thus/likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb: ‘thus/likewise’)

• tat: that
• tat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• etat: this
• etat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• tritayam: the triad (set of three)
• tritayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tritaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; ‘a triad’

• bhūmnā: by the name ‘Bhūman’ / as ‘Bhūman’
• bhūmnā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; instrumental singular—‘by/with (the term) bhūman’

• kathyate: is spoken of / is called
• kathyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kath (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘is said/called’

• tattva-vedibhiḥ: by the knowers of reality
• tattva-vedibhiḥ: Kartr̥ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tattva (प्रातिपदिक) + vedin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः—‘तत्त्वं वेदन्ति ये’ (knowers of truth)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It maps reality into three levels—changing nature (kṣara), the changeless principle (akṣara), and the Supreme beyond both—pointing the seeker toward Shiva as the transcendent Pati who surpasses all categories.

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

Linga-worship begins with saguna support for attention and devotion, but its inner intent is to lead the mind beyond the kṣara–akṣara distinction to the Supreme Shiva (kṣarākṣara-para), the formless ground indicated by the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on the threefold discernment: observe the kṣara as impermanent, contemplate the akṣara as steady witnessing awareness, and then surrender in japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to realize Shiva beyond both; support with Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and focused breath (śiva-dhyāna) if practiced.