Shloka 132

Vyāsotpatti-kathana

Account of the Birth/Origin of Vyāsa

Devanagari script

विवर्तनाद्ब्रह्मणस्तु ब्रह्मवैवर्तमुच्यते । लिंगस्य चरितोक्तत्वात्पुराणं लिंगमुच्यते

Transliteration

vivartanādbrahmaṇastu brahmavaivartamucyate | liṃgasya caritoktatvātpurāṇaṃ liṃgamucyate

Translation

لأنه يعلّم عن التحوّلات (فايفارتا) المتعلّقة ببراهما، مبدأ الخلق الكوني، سُمّي «برهما-فايفارتا». ولأنه يروي السيرة المقدّسة ومجدَ اللِّنگا، رمزِ الربّ شِيفا، سُمّي ذلك البورانا «لِنگا بورانا».

Word by Word

• विवर्तनात्: from (the) transformation
• विवर्तनात्: Hetu (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विवर्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th case), एकवचन; अपादान/हेतु

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahman / of Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विशेषार्थक (indeed/but)

• ब्रह्म-वैवर्तम्: (the Purāṇa called) Brahmavaivarta
• ब्रह्म-वैवर्तम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म-वैवर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणः वैवर्तम्)

• उच्यते: is called
• उच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• लिङ्गस्य: of the Liṅga
• लिङ्गस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन

• चरित-उक्तत्वात्: because it narrates the deeds
• चरित-उक्तत्वात्: Hetu (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरित-उक्तत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th case), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (चरितस्य उक्तत्वम् = ‘being the narration of deeds’)

• पुराणम्: the Purāṇa
• पुराणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• लिङ्गम्: Liṅga (Purāṇa)
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; नाम (Purāṇa-name)

• उच्यते: is called
• उच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages, consistent with Purāṇic frame and Uma-saṃhitā discourse style)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Liṅgodbhava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Mentions the Liṅga Purāṇa by name and rationale (‘liṅgasya carita’). While not naming a specific Jyotirliṅga, it evokes the pan-Indian Liṅga as Śiva’s aniconic/axis form celebrated across kṣetras.

Significance: Affirms liṅga-māhātmya as a salvific focus; in Siddhānta, liṅga-arcana supports purification (mala-kṣaya) and prepares the paśu for Śiva’s anugraha.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It explains that Purāṇas are named according to their central teaching: when the Liṅga’s glory and sacred history are taught, the text is identified as ‘Liṅga Purāṇa,’ affirming the Liṅga as a primary doorway to Śiva-realization in Shaiva tradition.

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

By stating that a Purāṇa is called ‘Liṅga’ because it expounds the Liṅga’s carita (māhātmya and narratives), it supports Saguna upāsanā through the Liṅga as a sanctified form that leads the devotee toward Śiva, the supreme Pati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is śravaṇa (devotional listening/recitation) of Liṅga-related Purāṇic teachings alongside Liṅga-pūjā—ideally with Panchākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and traditional offerings such as water/abhisheka.