Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 28

सर्‍वेश्वर-परमकारण-निरूपणम् / The Supreme Lord as the Uncaused Cause

Devanagari script

ततः परं तु यन्नित्यं ज्ञानमानंदमव्ययम् । तन्निष्ठैस्तत्परैर्भक्तैर्दृश्यं तद्व्रतमाश्रितैः

Transliteration

tataḥ paraṃ tu yannityaṃ jñānamānaṃdamavyayam | tanniṣṭhaistatparairbhaktairdṛśyaṃ tadvratamāśritaiḥ

Translation

更在其上者，有一永恒之实相——纯净的觉知与安乐，不坏不灭。此至上湿婆，唯为安住于祂、全心归向祂，并奉持祂之圣行誓戒（vrata）的奉献者所真实瞻见。

Word by Word

• ततः: thereafter; from that
• ततः: अपादान (Apādāna) / क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादानार्थक-क्रियाविशेषण (ablatival adverb) — "from that/thereafter"

• परम्: supreme; beyond
• परम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (neuter nom/acc sg)

• तु: but; indeed
• तु: सम्बन्धसूचक (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle) — विरोध/अन्वयार्थ

• यत्: which; that which
• यत्: सम्बन्ध (Relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• नित्यम्: eternal
• नित्यम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: समानााधिकरण/विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आनन्दम्: bliss
• आनन्दम्: समानााधिकरण/विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अव्ययम्: imperishable; unchanging
• अव्ययम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• तत्: that
• तत्: सम्बन्ध/अनुवृत्ति (Anaphoric)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; संकेतक-सर्वनाम (demonstrative)

• निष्ठैः: by steadfastness; by firm devotion
• निष्ठैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; करण (instrumental)

• तत्-परैः: by those intent on That
• तत्-परैः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीह्यर्थे तत्पुरुष-समास (tatpara = "having that as the highest aim"); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• भक्तैः: by devotees
• भक्तैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक; √भज् (धातु) से क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle used as noun)

• दृश्यम्: is to be seen; is perceivable
• दृश्यम्: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृश्य (प्रातिपदिक; √दृश् (धातु) से यत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive: "to be seen/knowable")

• तत्-व्रतम्: that vow/observance
• तत्-व्रतम्: सम्बन्ध/उपपद-सम्बन्ध (Object of adherence)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आश्रितैः: by those who have taken refuge in / adhered to
• आश्रितैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आश्रित (प्रातिपदिक; आ√श्रि (धातु) से क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; विशेषण ("having resorted to")

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Affirms that the para-tattva (nitya-jñāna-ānanda) is realized by steadfast bhaktas observing Śaiva vrata—linking discipline (caryā/kriyā) with grace-born realization.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares Shiva as the imperishable, eternal Reality of pure consciousness and bliss, and teaches that this Truth is realized not merely by discourse but by steadfast devotion and disciplined Shaiva observance leading to direct spiritual vision (Shiva-darshana).

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

Shaiva observances and devotion often begin with Saguna worship—especially Linga-puja—through which the mind becomes one-pointed. That steadiness matures into the realization of Shiva’s higher, imperishable nature described here as eternal consciousness and bliss.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to adopting a Shaiva vrata: regular worship with purity and restraint, japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and meditative absorption in Shiva—supported by traditional aids like bhasma (Tripundra) and rudraksha where applicable.