Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 10

शिवतत्त्वे परापरभावविचारः

Inquiry into Śiva’s Principle and the Parā–Aparā Paradox

Devanagari script

मूर्तात्मा सकलः कश्चित्स चान्यो निष्फलः शिवः । शिवेनाधिष्ठितश्चेति सर्वत्र लघु कथ्यते

Transliteration

mūrtātmā sakalaḥ kaścitsa cānyo niṣphalaḥ śivaḥ | śivenādhiṣṭhitaśceti sarvatra laghu kathyate

Translation

诸处皆略说：一边有某种具形具足的（显现的）实体；另一边有与之不同的湿婆，离于显著之果（无条件者）。又说前者为湿婆所遍满、所主宰。

Word by Word

• mūrta-ātmā: the embodied self
• mūrta-ātmā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrta (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: 'मूर्तः आत्मा यस्य/मूर्त आत्मा' (embodied self)

• sakalaḥ: complete; entire
• sakalaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sakala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण of mūrta-ātmā

• kaścit: someone; a certain (one)
• kaścit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaścit (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun)

• saḥ: he; that (one)
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• anyaḥ: other; different
• anyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• niṣphalaḥ: fruitless; ineffective
• niṣphalaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niṣphala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण of śivaḥ (as used here)

• śivaḥ: Śiva
• śivaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• śivena: by Śiva
• śivena: Karana (करण/Instrument/agentive instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• adhiṣṭhitaḥ: presided over; governed
• adhiṣṭhitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: adhi-√sthā (स्था धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'adhiṣṭhita' = 'presided over/inhabited'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इति-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• sarvatra: everywhere
• sarvatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देश-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• laghu: briefly; in short
• laghu: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: laghu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणवत् अव्ययीभूत (adverbial use of adjective; indeclinable in sense)

• kathyate: is said; is stated
• kathyate: Kriyā (क्रिया/finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kath (कथ् धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It distinguishes the manifest, attribute-bearing reality (sakala/mūrta) from the distinct, unconditioned Shiva (niṣphala), while affirming that the manifest is sustained and ruled by Shiva—guiding the seeker from worldly perception to recognition of Pati (Shiva) as the inner governor.

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

Linga worship begins with Sakala (accessible form and attributes) and leads to the understanding of Nishkala Shiva beyond form; the verse supports the idea that all forms are meaningful because they are ‘adhiṣṭhita’—indwelt and empowered—by Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the inner presider (adhiṣṭhātṛ) while chanting the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” using bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as aids to steady awareness from the manifest to the unmanifest Shiva.