Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 17

शक्तितत्त्ववर्णनम् / Exposition of the Principle of Śakti

Devanagari script

तया विच्छिन्नपाशास्ते सर्वकारणकारणम् । शक्तिमंतं महादेवमपश्यन्दिव्यचक्षुषा

Transliteration

tayā vicchinnapāśāste sarvakāraṇakāraṇam | śaktimaṃtaṃ mahādevamapaśyandivyacakṣuṣā

Translation

由她斩断其系缚之绳，他们以天眼得见大天（Mahādeva）——威力具足、为一切因之因的主宰。

Word by Word

• तया: by her/with that (power)
• तया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• विच्छिन्नपाशाः: those whose bonds are cut
• विच्छिन्नपाशाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विच्छिन्न-पाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—विच्छिन्नाः पाशाः येषां ते

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• सर्वकारणकारणम्: the cause of all causes
• सर्वकारणकारणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-कारण-कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—सर्वेषां कारणानां कारणम्

• शक्तिमन्तम्: powerful
• शक्तिमन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्तिमन्त् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण—महादेवम्

• महादेवम्: Mahādeva (Śiva)
• महादेवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—महान् देवः

• अपश्यन्: seeing
• अपश्यन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ते इति कर्तृसंबन्धः

• दिव्यचक्षुषा: with divine sight
• दिव्यचक्षुषा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्य-चक्षुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—दिव्यं चक्षुः

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Mahadeva)

FAQs

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

It teaches that liberation begins when pasha (bondage) is severed by divine grace, after which the soul gains divya-cakṣus (spiritual perception) to realize Śiva as the ultimate Pati—the Cause of all causes.

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

Seeing Mahādeva ‘with divine sight’ aligns with Saguna upāsanā: through devotion and purification, the worshipper becomes fit for Śiva-darśana—often approached through Linga worship as the accessible form of the transcendent Cause.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna with mantra-japa (especially the Panchākṣarī, ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’) to purify the mind; such sādhana, supported by Śiva’s grace, is said to ‘cut the bonds’ and awaken inner vision.