Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 15

शक्तितत्त्ववर्णनम् / Exposition of the Principle of Śakti

Devanagari script

अचेतनत्वात्कालादेश्चेतनत्वेपि चात्मनः । सुखदुःखानि भूतत्वादनीशत्वाद्विचार्यते

Transliteration

acetanatvātkālādeścetanatvepi cātmanaḥ | sukhaduḥkhāni bhūtatvādanīśatvādvicāryate

Translation

虽说自我（ātman）本具觉知，但乐与苦的经验被考察为：由于与无觉之物相系——如时间等——并且作为具身之众生（bhūta），并不自主、不自在（anīśa）而生。

Word by Word

• acetanatvāt: because of insentience
• acetanatvāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: acetana-tva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन); -tvāt = कारणे पञ्चमी (ablative of cause)

• kālāt: from/because of time
• kālāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• ādeḥ: and from the rest (etc.)
• ādeḥ: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन); sense: 'etc.' (ādi) with ablative governed by -āt understood

• cetanatve: in sentience
• cetanatve: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cetana-tva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), concessive/emphatic

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• ātmanaḥ: of the Self
• ātmanaḥ: Sambandha/Ṣaṣṭhī (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• sukha-duḥkhāni: pleasures and pains
• sukha-duḥkhāni: Karma (कर्म) / discussed object
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha + duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative)

• bhūtatvāt: because of being a created entity
• bhūtatvāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta-tva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन); cause

• anīśatvāt: because of lack of lordship/powerlessness
• anīśatvāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: an-īśa-tva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन); cause

• vicāryate: is considered/inquired into
• vicāryate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-car (धातु) + ya (कर्मणि)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Passive voice (कर्मणि प्रयोग), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vayu Samhita’s philosophical teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Tatpuruṣa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It explains that the conscious soul’s suffering is not intrinsic to pure consciousness; it is investigated as a result of bondage—association with inert conditioning factors like time—and the soul’s lack of independent lordship, pointing toward liberation through Shiva (Pati) who alone is fully independent.

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

By highlighting the soul’s dependence and bondage, it directs the seeker to take refuge in Shiva as the supreme Lord (Pati). Linga/Saguna Shiva worship is a practical means to receive Shiva’s grace, loosen the bonds (pāśa), and transcend time-bound conditioning.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A fitting takeaway is daily Shiva-upāsanā that reduces identification with time-bound states: japa of the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” meditation on Shiva as the independent Lord, and (where taught in the Purana) purificatory disciplines like bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa as supports for steadiness and detachment.