Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 17

Śiva’s Freedom from Bondage and His Cosmic Support (शिवस्य अबन्धत्वं तथा सर्वाधिष्ठानत्वम्)

Devanagari script

शिवेनातिशयत्वेन ज्ञानैश्वर्ये विलोकिते । लोकेशातिशयत्वेन स्थितं प्राहुर्मनीषिणः

Transliteration

śivenātiśayatvena jñānaiśvarye vilokite | lokeśātiśayatvena sthitaṃ prāhurmanīṣiṇaḥ

Translation

当审观智慧与主宰之威德时，智者宣说：因湿婆之故，它们安立于无与伦比的卓绝之中；并且此等至上，超越诸世界之主所被称颂的伟大。

Word by Word

• शिवेन: by Śiva
• शिवेन: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; करण (instrument/means)

• अति-शयत्वेन: by (his) surpassing excellence
• अति-शयत्वेन: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिशयत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; भाववाचक (abstract noun)

• ज्ञान-ऐश्वर्ये: in knowledge and lordship
• ज्ञान-ऐश्वर्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + ऐश्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), द्विवचन (dual); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः: ‘ज्ञाने च ऐश्वर्ये च’

• विलोकिते: when (they are) observed/considered
• विलोकिते: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + √लोक् (लोक् धातु) → विलोकित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), द्विवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), ‘having been observed/seen’ agreeing with ज्ञान-ऐश्वर्ये

• लोक-ईश-अति-शयत्वेन: by superiority over the world-lord
• लोक-ईश-अति-शयत्वेन: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक) + अतिशयत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी/तत्पुरुष-समासः: ‘लोकेशस्य अतिशयत्वेन’ (by superiority over the Lord of the world)

• स्थितम्: (as) established/held
• स्थितम्: Karma (कर्म/Object, predicative complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √स्था (स्था धातु) → स्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) used predicatively: ‘established/held as’

• प्राहुः: they declare
• प्राहुः: Kriyā (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √अह् (अह् धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• मनीषिणः: the wise (sages)
• मनीषिणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनीषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्तृवाचक (agent noun)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s philosophical supremacy to the sages at Naimisharanya, as typical of the Vayu Samhita discourse)

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 establishes Śiva as the ultimate source and measure of both jñāna (liberating knowledge) and aiśvarya (divine lordship), indicating that true supremacy is not worldly power but the transcendent sovereignty of Pati (Śiva) that grants liberation.

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

By declaring Śiva’s unsurpassed lordship, it supports Linga/Saguna worship as a concrete focus for devotion to the Supreme who transcends all lesser cosmic rulers; the Linga signifies that very supreme Pati-tattva made accessible to devotees.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Śiva as the ground of jñāna and aiśvarya while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), aligning devotion with discernment that Śiva alone is the highest Lord beyond all lokādhipas.