Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 38

Devanagari script

मायाभिन्नो निरीहश्च मायो मायाविशारदः । सगुणोपि स्वतंत्रश्च निजानंदो विकल्पकः

Transliteration

māyābhinno nirīhaśca māyo māyāviśāradaḥ | saguṇopi svataṃtraśca nijānaṃdo vikalpakaḥ

Translation

وہ مایا سے جدا نہیں ہوتا، پھر بھی بےعمل رہتا ہے؛ وہی مایا کا مالک اور اس کے اسرار میں کامل ماہر ہے۔ سَگُن ہو کر بھی ہمیشہ خودمختار؛ اپنے ذاتی آنند میں قائم رہ کر کثرتِ امتیاز کی لیلا ظاہر کرتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• माया-भिन्नः: distinct from māyā
• माया-भिन्नः: विशेषण (Adjectival to subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक) + भिन्न (कृदन्त; √भिद्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भिन्न = भिद्-धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle)

• निरीहः: without desire/effort
• निरीहः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरीह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मायः: possessing māyā / magical
• मायः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (अर्थे) मायावी/मायामयः

• माया-विशारदः: expert in māyā
• माया-विशारदः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक) + विशारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (skilled in māyā)

• स-गुणः: with attributes/guṇas
• स-गुणः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/सह) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (with guṇas)

• अपि: even/though
• अपि: सम्बन्ध-बोधक (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; concessive/emphatic)

• स्वतन्त्रः: independent
• स्वतन्त्रः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वतन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• निज-आनन्दः: one whose nature is his own bliss
• निज-आनन्दः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निज (प्रातिपदिक) + आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (his own bliss / self-bliss)

• विकल्पकः: free from alternatives/without differentiation (or: one who forms distinctions)
• विकल्पकः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विकल्पक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Tatpuruṣa

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Clarifies pāśa (māyā) as subordinate to Pati: the soul’s bondage is not ultimate; recognizing Śiva as māyā’s lord is a key Siddhānta step toward release.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: मायाभिन्नो निरीहश्च मायो मायाविशारदः । सगुणोपि स्वतंत्रश्च निजानंदो विकल्पकः

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Implicit: tirodhāna through māyā—concealment generating vikalpa (plurality)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva (Pati) is untouched by Māyā yet governs it—He is intrinsically blissful and free, and the world’s diversity arises as His controlled manifestation, not as a limitation upon Him.

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

By affirming that Shiva can appear with qualities (saguṇa) while remaining independent and unbound, it supports Linga worship as a valid focus where the transcendent Lord compassionately becomes approachable without losing His supreme, nirguṇa freedom.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the self-luminous Lord beyond Māyā while repeating the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating detachment (nirīhatā) and inner steadiness, seeing worldly distinctions as vikalpa under His sovereignty.