Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 2

षडध्ववेदनम् (Ṣaḍadhva-vedanam) — The Sixfold Path: Sound, Meaning, and Tattva-Distribution

Devanagari script

नास्ति कश्चिदशब्दार्थो नापि शब्दो निरर्थकः । ततो हि समये शब्दस्सर्वस्सर्वार्थबोधकः

Transliteration

nāsti kaścidaśabdārtho nāpi śabdo nirarthakaḥ | tato hi samaye śabdassarvassarvārthabodhakaḥ

Translation

没有任何意义离得开言辞，也没有任何言辞真正无义。因此，依既定的约定与正当用法，一切言语皆能显发所欲表达之旨趣。

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• अस्ति: exists
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कश्चित्: someone/any
• कश्चित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; चित्-प्रत्यययुक्त (indefinite)

• अशब्दार्थः: a meaning without a word
• अशब्दार्थः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-शब्द-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः: अशब्दः अर्थः यस्य/अशब्दः अर्थः = अशब्दार्थः (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः); नञ्-पूर्वपद

• न: nor
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपवादार्थक (particle: also/even)

• शब्दः: a word
• शब्दः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• निरर्थकः: meaningless
• निरर्थकः: Karta-visheshana (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्-अर्थक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपसर्ग-पूर्वपद (निर्) + अर्थक; विशेषण

• ततः: therefore
• ततः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-आदेशरूप अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ (therefore/from that)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; अवधान/कारणसूचक (indeed/for)

• समये: in convention/at the agreed usage
• समये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• शब्दः: a word
• शब्दः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सर्वः: every
• सर्वः: Karta-visheshana (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• सर्वार्थबोधकः: capable of conveying all meanings
• सर्वार्थबोधकः: Karta-visheshana (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-अर्थ-बोधक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः: सर्वेषाम् अर्थानाम् बोधकः = सर्वार्थबोधकः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

It affirms the Shaiva view that scriptural language (śabda) is purposeful: when received through proper tradition and context, words reliably disclose meaning, supporting śāstra as a valid means of knowing Shiva-tattva and the path to liberation.

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

Linga worship is guided by mantra, names, and ritual injunctions; this verse underlines that such sacred words are not empty sounds—through agreed usage in the Shaiva tradition, they point to Shiva’s presence and make devotion and understanding effective.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It supports mantra-japa done with correct pronunciation and understood meaning—especially Panchakshara japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—since śabda, when aligned with tradition, becomes a direct aid to contemplation and worship.