Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 22

परस्य दुर्‍निर्णयः—षट्कुलीयमुनिविवादः तथा ब्रह्मदर्शनार्थं मेरुप्रयाणम् | The Dispute of the Six-Lineage Sages on the Supreme and Their Journey to Brahmā at Meru

Devanagari script

त्वयैव निखिलं सृष्टं संहृतं पालितं जगत् । तथापि मायया नाथ न विद्मस्त्वां पितामह

Transliteration

tvayaiva nikhilaṃ sṛṣṭaṃ saṃhṛtaṃ pālitaṃ jagat | tathāpi māyayā nātha na vidmastvāṃ pitāmaha

Translation

唯由汝一者，整个宇宙得以创造、护持并复归收摄。然则，噫主宰(Nātha)，因汝之幻力(māyā)，我等实不能真知于汝——噫毗多摩诃(Pitāmaha，梵天祖父)。

Word by Word

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/सामान्य, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एव: alone, indeed
• एव: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (restrictive/emphatic)

• निखिलम्: entire
• निखिलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (of जगत्)

• सृष्टम्: created
• सृष्टम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; जगत् इत्यस्य विशेषण

• संहृतम्: withdrawn/destroyed
• संहृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु) उपसर्ग: सम्-
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; जगत्-विशेषण

• पालितम्: protected/maintained
• पालितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पाल् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; जगत्-विशेषण

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• तथा: thus, even so
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण

• अपि: even, nevertheless
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (concessive/also)

• मायया: by illusion/power of māyā
• मायया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• नाथ: O Lord
• नाथ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• विद्मः: we know
• विद्मः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/सामान्य, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पितामह: O Grandfather (Brahmā)
• पितामह: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva is the ultimate Pati—the source of creation, maintenance, and dissolution—yet He remains unknowable to limited beings when māyā (pāśa) veils true knowledge; liberation comes through Shiva’s grace and right devotion.

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

Since māyā obscures the formless (nirguṇa) reality, the Purana supports approaching Shiva through saguna worship—especially the Śiva-liṅga—as a compassionate, accessible focus that leads the devotee toward realizing Shiva beyond māyā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is humble surrender with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and steady liṅga-dhyāna, seeking Shiva’s anugraha (grace) to pierce māyā and awaken true knowledge.