Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 17

त्रिमूर्तिसाम्यं तथा महेश्वरस्य परमार्थकारणत्वम् | Equality of the Trimūrti and Maheśvara as the Supreme Cause

Devanagari script

भूतानामादिभूतत्वाद्भूतादिः कथ्यते तु सः । भूतादेश्शब्दमात्रं स्यात्तत्र चाकाशसंभवः

Transliteration

bhūtānāmādibhūtatvādbhūtādiḥ kathyate tu saḥ | bhūtādeśśabdamātraṃ syāttatra cākāśasaṃbhavaḥ

Translation

Weil es unter allen Wesen das ursprüngliche Ur-Element ist, wird es wahrhaft „Bhūtādi“ (Ursprung der Elemente) genannt. Der Ausdruck „Bhūtādi“ ist im Wesen nur eine Benennung; und aus jenem feinen Prinzip entsteht ākāśa (Äther/Raum).

Word by Word

• भूतानाम्: of beings/elements
• भूतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• आदि-भूतत्वात्: because of being the primordial element
• आदि-भूतत्वात्: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + भूतत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (causal ablative)

• भूत-आदिः: the origin of beings (Bhūtādi)
• भूत-आदिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: तत्पुरुष (भूतानाम् आदिः)

• कथ्यते: is called/is said
• कथ्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वय-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• सः: he/that (principle)
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भूत-आदेः: of Bhūtādi/of the origin of beings
• भूत-आदेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: तत्पुरुष (भूतानाम् आदेः)

• शब्द-मात्रम्: mere sound
• शब्द-मात्रम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्द (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: तत्पुरुष (शब्द एव मात्रम्)

• स्यात्: would be/is to be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्र: there/in that (state)
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Context)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/प्रसङ्ग-अव्यय (adverb: there/in that context)

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

• आकाश-संभवः: the arising of ether (ākāśa)
• आकाश-संभवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक) + संभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: तत्पुरुष (आकाशात् संभवः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames creation as a graded unfolding of principles (tattvas): names and categories are secondary, while the seeker should discern the subtle source behind them—ultimately leading beyond elements toward Shiva, the Pati who transcends and supports all tattvas.

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

By showing that even fundamental elements like ākāśa arise from subtler causes, the verse supports Linga-worship as contemplation of Shiva as the causal ground of all manifestation—Saguna worship guiding the mind toward the Nirguna reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on the inner ‘space’ (ākāśa) in the heart as a subtle support for japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), using the insight that names are labels while awareness should turn to the source.