Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 10

शिवस्य परापरब्रह्मस्वरूपनिर्णयः / Determination of Śiva as Higher and Lower Brahman

Devanagari script

क्षराक्षरात्मकं प्राहुः क्षराक्षरपरं परे । क्षरस्सर्वाणि भूतानि कूटस्थो ऽक्षर उच्यते

Transliteration

kṣarākṣarātmakaṃ prāhuḥ kṣarākṣaraparaṃ pare | kṣarassarvāṇi bhūtāni kūṭastho 'kṣara ucyate

Translation

有人宣说至上者具足可坏（kṣara）与不坏（akṣara）二性；亦有人说祂超越可坏与不坏。诸有情众生皆名为“可坏”（kṣara），而内在安住、恒常不动的真实则称为“不坏”（akṣara）。

Word by Word

• क्षराक्षरात्मकम्: consisting of the perishable and imperishable
• क्षराक्षरात्मकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षर + अक्षर + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (क्षर-अक्षरयोः आत्मकः = consisting of perishable and imperishable); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्राहुः: they have said/call
• प्राहुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• क्षराक्षरपरम्: beyond the perishable and imperishable
• क्षराक्षरपरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षर + अक्षर + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (क्षर-अक्षरयोः परम् = beyond perishable and imperishable); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• परे: others (people/sages)
• परे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘अन्ये’ इत्यर्थे

• क्षरः: the perishable
• क्षरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सर्वाणि: all
• सर्वाणि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (भूतानि)

• भूतानि: beings/elements
• भूतानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• कूटस्थः: unchanging/steadfast
• कूटस्थः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कूटस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (अक्षरः)

• अक्षरः: the imperishable
• अक्षरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उच्यते: is called
• उच्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

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 distinguishes the changing realm of embodied existence (kṣara) from the unchanging inner principle (akṣara), pointing the seeker toward Shiva as the highest Reality who is known as both immanent in creation and transcendent beyond all categories.

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

Linga worship trains the mind to see Shiva as present within all forms (immanence in the kṣara world) while also indicating the formless, immutable Shiva (akṣara) who transcends name and form—uniting saguna devotion with nirguna realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on the ‘kūṭastha’—the unmoving witness within—while repeating the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), letting attention withdraw from the perishable stream of thoughts to the imperishable presence of Shiva.