Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 19

Devanagari script

रसादापस्समुत्पन्नास्तेभ्यो गन्धसमुद्भवः । गन्धाच्च पृथिवी जाता भूतेभ्योन्यच्चराचरम्

Transliteration

rasādāpassamutpannāstebhyo gandhasamudbhavaḥ | gandhācca pṛthivī jātā bhūtebhyonyaccarācaram

Translation

من الطعم (راسا) نشأت المياه (آبَس)؛ ومن تلك المياه انبثق العِطر/الرائحة (غنده). ومن الرائحة وُلدت الأرض (برثِفي)؛ ومن العناصر تجلّت سائر الكائنات المتحركة والساكنة.

Word by Word

• रसात्: from taste
• रसात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आपः: waters
• आपः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्/आप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (बहुवचन-प्रयोग-प्रधान), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (pluralia tantum)

• समुत्पन्नाः: arisen/produced
• समुत्पन्नाः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + उत् + पद् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past Passive Participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (आपः इत्यस्य विशेषण)

• तेभ्यः: from them
• तेभ्यः: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• गन्ध-समुद्भवः: the arising of smell
• गन्ध-समुद्भवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + समुद्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: तत्पुरुष (गन्धस्य समुद्भवः)

• गन्धात्: from smell
• गन्धात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पृथिवी: earth
• पृथिवी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जाता: born/produced
• जाता: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past Passive Participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (पृथिवी इत्यस्य विशेषण)

• भूतेभ्यः: from the elements/beings
• भूतेभ्यः: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अन्यत्: other
• अन्यत्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘other’ (qualifier of carācaram)

• चर-अचरम्: the moving and the unmoving (all beings)
• चर-अचरम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर (प्रातिपदिक) + अचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: द्वन्द्व (चरं च अचरं च)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

FAQs

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

It outlines the ordered manifestation of the gross elements, helping the seeker discern that the world is a produced (dependent) reality, while Shiva as Pati is the independent ground beyond these evolutes—supporting detachment and tattva-viveka.

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

By explaining how the elements and beings arise, the text directs attention to their source and support—Shiva—who is worshipped as the Linga, the stable sign of the transcendent Pati sustaining all changing forms.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is bhuta-shuddhi (inner purification by contemplating the elements dissolving back to their subtle causes) alongside japa of the Panchakshara, "Om Namaḥ Śivāya," to rest awareness in Shiva beyond sensory qualities like taste and smell.