Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 12

अन्तराय-उपसर्ग-विवेचनम् / Analysis of Yogic Obstacles (Antarāyas) and Upasargas

Devanagari script

श्रवणं सर्वशब्दानां श्रवणे चाप्रयत्नतः । वार्त्ता वार्त्तासु विज्ञानं सर्वेषामेव देहिनाम्

Transliteration

śravaṇaṃ sarvaśabdānāṃ śravaṇe cāprayatnataḥ | vārttā vārttāsu vijñānaṃ sarveṣāmeva dehinām

Translation

一切具身众生本自具足听闻诸声之力，并能不假刻意而听；同样，他们也通过日常的传闻与谈话而获得寻常的理解。

Word by Word

• श्रवणम्: hearing
• श्रवणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• सर्व-शब्दानाम्: of all sounds/words
• सर्व-शब्दानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (सर्वे शब्दाः); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन

• श्रवणे: in hearing
• श्रवणे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• अप्रयत्नतः: effortlessly
• अप्रयत्नतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अप्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तसिल्)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablative adverb), ‘without effort’

• वार्त्ता: speech/talk/news
• वार्त्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार्त्ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• वार्त्तासु: in (various) talks
• वार्त्तासु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार्त्ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative), बहुवचन

• विज्ञानम्: understanding/knowledge
• विज्ञानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (सर्व-शब्दः), षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारणार्थक (restrictive particle)

• देहिनाम्: of embodied beings
• देहिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देहिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

FAQs

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

It contrasts effortless sensory cognition with higher liberating knowledge: the bound soul (paśu) hears and understands worldly talk naturally, yet must consciously redirect awareness toward Shiva (Pati) for true jñāna and moksha.

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

It implies that the same faculty of hearing used for worldly talk should be sanctified through listening to Shiva’s names, līlās, and Linga-mahātmyas—transforming ordinary śravaṇa into devotional śravaṇa that supports Saguna Shiva worship and inner purification.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice intentional śravaṇa: daily recitation/listening of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and Shiva Purana kathā, treating hearing as a disciplined sādhanā rather than mere effortless sense activity.