Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 77

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

Devanagari script

अंगुष्ठमात्रपर्यन्तैस्समंतात्संततं ततम् । महामायावसाना द्यौर्वाय्वाद्यैर्भुवनाधिपैः

Transliteration

aṃguṣṭhamātraparyantaissamaṃtātsaṃtataṃ tatam | mahāmāyāvasānā dyaurvāyvādyairbhuvanādhipaiḥ

Translation

它向四方不断铺展，却仅至一拇指之量。越过大摩耶（Mahāmāyā）的终尽处，便是天界，由以风神伐由（Vāyu）为首的诸世界之主所主宰。

Word by Word

• अङ्गुष्ठ-मात्र-पर्यन्तैः: up to a thumb’s measure
• अङ्गुष्ठ-मात्र-पर्यन्तैः: करण/परिमाण (Karaṇa/Measure)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अङ्गुष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पर्यन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘अङ्गुष्ठमात्रपर्यन्त’ = ‘up to the measure of a thumb’; adverbial-instrumental sense

• समन्तात्: on all sides
• समन्तात्: देशाधिकरण (Adverbial-locative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्तात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रयोग (adverb) ‘on all sides’

• सन्ततम्: continuous
• सन्ततम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सन्तत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; qualifies ततम्

• ततम्: spread/extended
• ततम्: कर्म/वर्ण्य (Object described)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत (प्रातिपदिक; from √तन्—to stretch)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) from √तन्

• महामाया-अवसानाः: ending at Mahāmāyā
• महामाया-अवसानाः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महामाया (प्रातिपदिक) + अवसान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘महामायायाः अवसानम्’ → ‘ending at Mahāmāyā’; agrees with द्यौः

• द्यौः: the heaven
• द्यौः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्यौ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• वायु-आद्यैः: by Vāyu and others
• वायु-आद्यैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; ‘वाय्वादि’ = ‘Vāyu and others’

• भुवन-अधिपैः: by the rulers of the worlds
• भुवन-अधिपैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुवन (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘भुवनस्य अधिपः’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: māyā-avasāna (cosmic boundary where Mahāmāyā terminates and higher celestial governance begins)

Characters & Entities

• Vayu
• Mahāmāyā

FAQs

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

The verse highlights a key Shaiva Siddhanta insight: all manifested realms remain within Māyā’s measure and limitation, while true transcendence begins beyond Mahāmāyā—pointing the seeker toward Pati (Shiva) who is beyond the veiling power.

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

Worship of the Linga (Saguna symbol leading to Nirguna truth) trains the mind to move from limited, measured experience (within Māyā) toward Shiva’s boundless reality, which is not confined by the cosmic rulers or their spheres.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate with the Panchākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as a means to pierce Māyā’s limitation; support it with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and steady japa, cultivating detachment from worldly spheres and their powers.