Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 4

रुद्राविर्भावकारणम् — Causes and Pattern of Rudra’s Manifestation

Pratikalpa

Devanagari script

निर्दिष्टः पममेशेन महेशो नीललोहितः । पुत्रो भूत्वानुगृह्णाति ब्रह्माणं ब्रह्मणोनुजः

Transliteration

nirdiṣṭaḥ pamameśena maheśo nīlalohitaḥ | putro bhūtvānugṛhṇāti brahmāṇaṃ brahmaṇonujaḥ

Translation

So nahm Maheśa auf Geheiß des höchsten Herrn die Gestalt namens Nīlalohita an; und gleichsam als Sohn geworden, erwies der jüngere Bruder Brahmās Brahmā gnädige Hilfe.

Word by Word

• निर्दिष्टः: appointed
• निर्दिष्टः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√दिश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘appointed/indicated’

• परम-ईशेन: by the Supreme Lord
• परम-ईशेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; ‘by the Supreme Lord’

• महेशः: Maheśa (Śiva)
• महेशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नील-लोहितः: blue and red-hued
• नील-लोहितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक) + लोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (वर्णद्वयसमाहारः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; महेशस्य विशेषणम्

• पुत्रः: (as) a son
• पुत्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (भावे) ‘as a son’

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having become’

• अनुगृह्णाति: blesses
• अनुगृह्णाति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-√ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; ‘favors/blesses’

• ब्रह्माणम्: Brahmā
• ब्रह्माणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• अनुजः: younger brother
• अनुजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘younger brother’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Nīlakaṇṭha

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: cosmic-delegation in the creation-cycle (appointment of Nīlalohita to aid Brahmā)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Nīlalohita

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s anugraha (saving grace): though transcendent as Parameśa, He willingly assumes a manifest form (Nīlalohita) to guide cosmic order and uplift beings—showing Pati (the Lord) compassionately supporting the worlds.

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

Nīlalohita is a Saguna manifestation of the same Supreme Śiva who is worshipped as the Linga—formless in essence yet approachable through sacred forms for devotion, meditation, and right understanding.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as the gracious Lord (anugraha-mūrti) while repeating the Panchākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and, if following Purāṇic practice, apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder of surrender to Śiva’s guidance.