Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 76

शिवशक्त्यैक्य-तत्त्वविचारः / Inquiry into the Unity of Śiva and Śakti

Para–Apara Ontology

Devanagari script

यतो वाचो निवर्तंते मनसा चेन्द्रियैस्सह । अप्राकृती परा चैषा विभूतिः पारमेश्वरी

Transliteration

yato vāco nivartaṃte manasā cendriyaissaha | aprākṛtī parā caiṣā vibhūtiḥ pārameśvarī

Translation

那真实境界，言语连同心与诸根皆从中退回；此即至上主之威德（Vibhūti）：超越一切，出离原质（Prakṛti），实为最高的帕拉梅湿瓦丽威德。

Word by Word

• yataḥ: from which (whence)
• yataḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatas (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), relative adverb (सम्बन्धबोधक-अव्यय): 'from which/whence'

• vācaḥ: words/speech
• vācaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• nivartante: return/turn back (cease)
• nivartante: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni√vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• manasā: by the mind
• manasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• indriyaiḥ: by the senses
• indriyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahārtha (सहार्थ/सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), postposition/adverb meaning 'with' (सह-अर्थक)

• aprākṛtī: non-material, unworldly
• aprākṛtī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-prākṛtī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• parā: supreme
• parā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• eṣā: this (she/this one)
• eṣā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन), demonstrative pronoun (सर्वनाम)

• vibhūtiḥ: power, glory, manifestation
• vibhūtiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhūti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• pārameśvarī: belonging to the Supreme Lord (Parameśvara)
• pārameśvarī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pārameśvarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: yato vāco nivartante manasā cendriyaiḥ saha

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Lalitā

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares that Parameśvara’s highest reality/power is beyond the reach of speech, mind, and senses—pointing the seeker toward direct realization (anubhava) rather than mere conceptual description, aligning with Shaiva Siddhanta’s emphasis on Pati (Shiva) as transcendent and liberating.

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

While the Supreme is ultimately beyond words and senses (nirguṇa, aprākṛtī), the Shiva Purana upholds saguna upāsanā—especially Linga worship—as a compassionate, accessible support that purifies the mind and leads the devotee toward that indescribable Parameśvara.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditation that withdraws speech and senses inward (pratyāhāra and dhyāna) is implied; in Shiva-Purana practice this is supported by japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady Linga-dhyāna to transcend mental discursiveness.