Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 22

रुद्रस्य परमात्मत्वे ब्रह्मपुत्रत्वादिसंशयप्रश्नः — Questions on Rudra’s Supremacy and His ‘Sonship’ to Brahmā

Devanagari script

कल्पे तत्पुरुषे वृत्तां ब्रह्मणः परमेष्ठिनः । पुरा नारायणो नाम कल्पे वै मेघवाहने

Transliteration

kalpe tatpuruṣe vṛttāṃ brahmaṇaḥ parameṣṭhinaḥ | purā nārāyaṇo nāma kalpe vai meghavāhane

Translation

Im Tatpuruṣa-Kalpa wird die uralte Begebenheit von Brahmā, Parameṣṭhin, dem höchsten Schöpfer, erzählt. Wahrlich, im Meghavāhana-Kalpa gab es einst einen, der Nārāyaṇa genannt wurde.

Word by Word

• कल्पे: in the kalpa (aeon)
• कल्पे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• तत्पुरुषे: in the Tatpuruṣa (named)
• तत्पुरुषे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; विशेषणम्—कल्पे (तत्पुरुष-नामक-कल्पे)

• वृत्ताम्: the account/story
• वृत्ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्ता (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √वृत् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; स्त्री)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; अर्थः—कथा/वृत्तान्तम्

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• परमेष्ठिनः: of the Supreme Lord (Parameṣṭhin)
• परमेष्ठिनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमेष्ठिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; ब्रह्मणः विशेषणम्/अपपद-सम्बन्धः

• पुरा: formerly/once
• पुरा: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb of time)

• नारायणः: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• नाम: by name
• नाम: Predicate-marker (विशेष्य-निर्देशक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नाम-प्रयोगे 'called/named' इत्यर्थे (indeclinable particle)

• कल्पे: in the kalpa
• कल्पे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Discourse-particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक/खलु-अर्थक-निपातः (emphatic particle)

• मेघवाहने: in (the kalpa) called Meghavāhana
• मेघवाहने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेघ-वाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मेघस्य वाहनम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Tatpuruṣa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: kalpa-cycle framing (Tatpuruṣa-kalpa; Meghavāhana-kalpa)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Narayana

FAQs

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

It frames the narrative within shifting kalpas, implying that while cosmic roles (like Brahmā and Nārāyaṇa) appear within time, the Shaiva view points to Shiva (Pati) as the timeless ground beyond these cycles.

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

By emphasizing kalpa-based changes in cosmic history, it supports Linga worship as a stable, saguna symbol of the nirguna Supreme—Shiva—who remains constant while creation’s offices and stories vary.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Shiva as beyond kalpa and name while repeating the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya); this steadies the mind in the eternal Pati amid changing cosmic narratives.