Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 9

शिवस्य परापरब्रह्मस्वरूपनिर्णयः / Determination of Śiva as Higher and Lower Brahman

Devanagari script

वैपरीत्यादसच्छब्दः कथ्यते वेदवादिभिः । तयोः पतित्वात्तु शिवः सदसत्पतिरुच्यते

Transliteration

vaiparītyādasacchabdaḥ kathyate vedavādibhiḥ | tayoḥ patitvāttu śivaḥ sadasatpatirucyate

Translation

เพราะความกลับกัน ผู้กล่าวอรรถแห่งพระเวทจึงใช้คำว่า “อสัต” แต่พระศิวะทรงเป็นปติ—เจ้าเหนือทั้งสัตและอสัต—ฉะนั้นจึงทรงพระนามว่า “สทสตปติ” ผู้เป็นเจ้าแห่งทั้งจริงและไม่จริง

Word by Word

• वैपरीत्यात्: from contrariety/inversion
• वैपरीत्यात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैपरीत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular)

• असत्-शब्दः: the term ‘asat’ (non-being)
• असत्-शब्दः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असत्-शब्द (प्रातिपदिक; घटकाः: असत् + शब्द)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• कथ्यते: is said
• कथ्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• वेदवादिभिः: by the expounders of the Veda
• वेदवादिभिः: Karaṇa/Agent-Instrument (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद-वादिन् (प्रातिपदिक; घटकाः: वेद + वादिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• तयोः: of those two (sat and asat)
• तयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), द्विवचन (Dual)

• पतित्वात्: because of (his) being the lord
• पतित्वात्: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति-त्व (प्रातिपदिक; भावप्रत्यय -त्व)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (adversative/emphatic particle)

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• सत्-असत्-पतिः: lord of being and non-being
• सत्-असत्-पतिः: Pratipādya/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्-असत्-पति (प्रातिपदिक; घटकाः: सत् + असत् + पति)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• उच्यते: is called
• उच्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that Śiva, as Pati (the Supreme Lord), transcends and governs both “sat” (manifest being) and “asat” (what is spoken of as non-being/unmanifest or negated). For the seeker, this means liberation comes by taking refuge in Śiva beyond all dualistic categories.

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

The Liṅga signifies Śiva who is beyond form (nirguṇa) yet approachable through form (saguṇa). Calling Him sadasat-pati supports Liṅga worship: the devotee honors Śiva as the ground of the manifest universe (sat) and the unmanifest/negated states (asat).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—while contemplating Śiva as the Lord of all states of experience (waking, dream, deep sleep) and of both manifest and unmanifest reality, supported by Śaiva marks like tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder of transcendence.