Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 30

मङ्गलाचरणम्, तीर्थ-परिसरः, सूतागमनम् — Invocation, Sacred Setting, and the Arrival of Sūta

Devanagari script

मध्यमं तनयं विष्णुं पातारं ब्रह्मणो ऽपि हि । लब्धविद्येन विधिना प्रजासृष्टिं वितन्वता

Transliteration

madhyamaṃ tanayaṃ viṣṇuṃ pātāraṃ brahmaṇo 'pi hi | labdhavidyena vidhinā prajāsṛṣṭiṃ vitanvatā

Translation

Wahrlich, Viṣṇu ist der mittlere Sohn; und auch Brahmā ist der Erzeuger. Nachdem Brahmā das (schöpferische) Wissen erlangt hatte, begann er—gemäß der vorgeschriebenen Ordnung—die Schöpfung der Wesen auszubreiten.

Word by Word

• मध्यमम्: the middle (one)
• मध्यमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: madhyama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (tanayaṃ/viṣṇuṃ)

• तनयम्: son
• तनयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tanaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विष्णुम्: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तनयम् इति समानाधिकरण

• पातारम्: protector
• पातारम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक-नाम (agent noun: protector)

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणः: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• लब्ध-विद्येन: with acquired knowledge
• लब्ध-विद्येन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: labdha (कृदन्त, √लभ्) + vidyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-समास (‘obtained-knowledge’ = ‘one who has obtained knowledge’ used adjectivally); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; विधिना इति सह करणत्वे

• विधिना: by the ordinance/method
• विधिना: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रजा-सृष्टिम्: creation of beings
• प्रजा-सृष्टिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā (प्रातिपदिक) + sṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘creation of creatures’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वितन्वता: by (one) expanding/spreading
• वितन्वता: Karana (करण/Agent-instrumental)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + तन् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘by (him) who is spreading/expanding’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: secondary creation (prajā-sarga) following primary empowerment

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It frames creation as a lawful, knowledge-guided process: even Brahmā functions by received vidyā and prescribed order, implying that the highest sovereignty belongs to the supreme Lord (Pati), while other deities operate as empowered agents.

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

By showing Brahmā and Viṣṇu within an ordered hierarchy, the verse supports the Shaiva view that Saguna Shiva (worshipped as the Linga) is the ultimate source of authority and grace, beyond the delegated roles of creation and preservation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is disciplined sādhana aligned with vidyā and vidhi: steady japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and worship with purity and rule (tripuṇḍra/bhasma, rudrākṣa) to receive right knowledge that leads beyond bondage.