Shloka 4

शब्दब्रह्मतनुवर्णनम् — Description of the Form of Śabda-Brahman

Devanagari script

किमिदं त्विति संचिंत्य मया तिष्ठन्महास्वनः । विष्णुस्सर्वसुराराध्यो निर्वैरस्तुष्टचेतसा

Transliteration

kimidaṃ tviti saṃciṃtya mayā tiṣṭhanmahāsvanaḥ | viṣṇussarvasurārādhyo nirvairastuṣṭacetasā

Translation

Ich dachte: „Was ist dies in Wahrheit?“ und blieb dort stehen, während jenes mächtige Dröhnen fortwährte. Viṣṇu — von allen Göttern verehrt — stand ohne Feindschaft, mit ruhigem und zufriedenen Geist.

Word by Word

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक (interrogative)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; निर्देशार्थक (demonstrative)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थ (but/indeed)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक निपात (quotative particle)

• संचिन्त्य: having reflected
• संचिन्त्य: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having thought)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• तिष्ठन्: standing
• तिष्ठन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—शतृ (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महास्वनः: one with a great sound
• महास्वनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (mahāsvana = ‘great-sounding/with great sound’)

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सर्वसुराराध्यः: worshipped by all gods
• सर्वसुराराध्यः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + आराध्य (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (sarvasurāṇām ārādhyaḥ = ‘worshipped by all gods’)

• निर्वैरः: free from enmity
• निर्वैरः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्वैर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तुष्टचेतसा: with a satisfied mind
• तुष्टचेतसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त) + चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषभावः (tuṣṭa-cetas = ‘with pleased mind’); रूपम्: तुष्टचेतसा (by/with a pleased mind)

Speaker

Brahmā (narrating the creation episode within the Rudra Saṃhitā context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It highlights the contemplative pause before revelation: when the mind becomes nirvaira (free of hostility) and steady, one becomes fit to recognize the higher source behind cosmic phenomena—ultimately pointing toward Śiva as the transcendent Pati beyond all.

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

The “great sound” functions like a sacred संकेत (indicator) that draws the seeker from outward wonder to inward inquiry; such inquiry matures into reverence for Śiva’s saguna manifestation (often revealed as Liṅga) while acknowledging the nirguna reality that the form signifies.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is śānta-dhyāna (quiet contemplation) with nirvaira-bhāva (non-hostility), supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to stabilize the mind for deeper insight.