Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 11

शिवतत्त्वे परापरभावविचारः

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

Devanagari script

मूर्त्यात्मैव तदा मूर्तिः शिवस्यास्य भवेदिति । तस्य मूर्तौ मूर्तिमतोः पारतंत्र्यं हि निश्चितम्

Transliteration

mūrtyātmaiva tadā mūrtiḥ śivasyāsya bhavediti | tasya mūrtau mūrtimatoḥ pārataṃtryaṃ hi niścitam

Translation

于是，这一形相确被宣说为湿婆自身之精髓。因为在此形相中，具形者对“形相”（显现之相）的依凭，已被确立无疑。

Word by Word

• mūrti-ātmā: (one) whose essence is form
• mūrti-ātmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrti + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय ‘whose nature is form / form-natured’

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण-निपात)

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Temporal adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• mūrtiḥ: form, embodiment
• mūrtiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• śivasya: of Śiva
• śivasya: Sambandha/Śeṣa (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• asya: of this
• asya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun used adjectivally (सर्वनाम-विशेषण), Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhavet: would be/should be
• bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-sūcaka (वाक्यार्थसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-निपात)

• tasya: of that
• tasya: Sambandha/Śeṣa (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• mūrtau: in the form
• mūrtau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• mūrtimataḥ: of the embodied one
• mūrtimataḥ: Sambandha/Śeṣa (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrtimat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• pārataṃtryam: dependence
• pārataṃtryam: Karta/Viśeṣya (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāratantrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Avadhāraṇa/Hetu-bodhaka (अवधारण/हेतुबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात)

• niścitam: is determined/settled
• niścitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niś-ci (धातु) + kta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It affirms that Śiva’s manifest form (mūrti/linga) is not merely symbolic but a real spiritual support through which the bound soul becomes oriented to Pati (Śiva). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, grace is approached through a concrete upāya (means), stabilizing devotion and knowledge.

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

The verse legitimizes Saguna worship by stating that Śiva is truly present as ‘form-essence’ in the manifest mode. Hence linga/mūrti worship becomes a disciplined way for the pashu (individual soul) to relate to Pati, reducing egoic autonomy and cultivating surrender.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular linga/mūrti upāsanā with mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and steady dhyāna on Śiva’s form is implied—training the mind to rest in Śiva and depend on His grace for liberation.