Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 2

अनुग्रह-स्वातन्त्र्य-प्रमाणविचारः | Inquiry into Pramāṇa, Divine Autonomy, and Grace

Devanagari script

प्रमणमत्र वक्ष्यामि सताम्मोहनिवर्तकम् । असतां त्वन्यथाभावः प्रसादेन विना प्रभोः

Transliteration

pramaṇamatra vakṣyāmi satāmmohanivartakam | asatāṃ tvanyathābhāvaḥ prasādena vinā prabhoḥ

Translation

在此我将宣说正量（pramāṇa）——能为贤善者遣除迷妄的正知之道。至于不善之人，若非蒙主宰之恩光照耀，便只会落入歪曲与颠倒的理解。

Word by Word

• pramāṇam: proof; valid means (of knowledge)
• pramāṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pramāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• atra: here
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• vakṣyāmi: I shall speak
• vakṣyāmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), 1st Person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• satām: of the good (people)
• satām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• moha-nivartakam: that which removes delusion
• moha-nivartakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: moha (प्रातिपदिक) + nivartaka (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त from √vṛt with ni-)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः (मोहस्य निवर्तकम्)

• asatām: of the wicked / unreal-minded
• asatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), contrastive

• anyathā-bhāvaḥ: perversion; being otherwise
• anyathā-bhāvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anyathā (अव्यय) + bhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); अव्ययीभावः (अन्यथा इति अव्ययपूर्वकः भावः)

• prasādena: by grace
• prasādena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prasāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vinā: without
• vinā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपपद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vinā (अव्यय)
• Form: Prepositional indeclinable (उपपद-अव्यय) governing instrumental/accusative; here with instrumental

• prabhoḥ: of the Lord
• prabhoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Teaches that pramāṇa (right means of knowledge) removes delusion for the sādhus, but even pramāṇa bears fruit fully only when illumined by the Lord’s prasāda—centering grace as the decisive factor.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that correct spiritual understanding (pramāṇa) removes delusion for the sincere, but lasting clarity ultimately depends on Śiva’s prasāda (grace). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, bondage (pāśa) is not cut merely by intellect; the Lord (Pati) must bestow grace for true realization.

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

Linga-worship and Saguna Śiva-upāsanā purify the mind and align the devotee with truth, making one a ‘sat’ (fit recipient). The verse implies that without the Lord’s favor, even teachings can be misread; devotional worship invites that prasāda which turns doctrine into lived realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with humility and ethical discipline, coupled with Śiva-pūjā (optionally with bhasma/tripuṇḍra and rudrākṣa). These practices cultivate purity so that right knowledge becomes effective through Śiva’s grace.