Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 19

शिवतत्त्वे परापरभावविचारः

Inquiry into Śiva’s Principle and the Parā–Aparā Paradox

Devanagari script

चिच्छेद बहुशो देवो ब्रह्मणः पञ्चमं शिरः । शिवनिन्दां प्रकुर्वंतं पुत्रेति कुमतेर्हठात्

Transliteration

ciccheda bahuśo devo brahmaṇaḥ pañcamaṃ śiraḥ | śivanindāṃ prakurvaṃtaṃ putreti kumaterhaṭhāt

Translation

Daraufhin trennte der Deva (Śiva) immer wieder Brahmās fünftes Haupt ab, denn jener Tor verhöhnte Śiva hartnäckig und nannte Ihn dreist „mein Sohn“.

Word by Word

• ciccheda: cut off
• ciccheda: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √chid (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (perfect/लिट्), Parasmaipada, Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana

• bahuśaḥ: repeatedly/many times
• bahuśaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Adverbial qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bahuśaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• devaḥ: the god (Śiva)
• devaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana

• brahmaṇaḥ: of Brahmā
• brahmaṇaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Ekavacana

• pañcamam: fifth
• pañcamam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañcama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; qualifying śiraḥ

• śiraḥ: head
• śiraḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• śiva-nindām: blasphemy of Śiva
• śiva-nindām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva-nindā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; object of prakurvantam (doing)

• prakurvantam: doing/committing
• prakurvantam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Vartamāna-kṛdanta (present active participle/शतृ), Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; object-participle referring to the person being cut (Brahmā’s head/agent implied)

• putra: son
• putra: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; used in quotation with iti (‘(saying) “son”’)

• iti: thus
• iti: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; quotative particle (इति)

• kumateḥ: of the evil-minded one
• kumateḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Ekavacana

• haṭhāt: out of obstinacy/violently
• haṭhāt: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: haṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Pañcamī vibhakti (5th) used adverbially (ablative of cause/manner)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Kāśī is upheld as Śiva’s own seat where false pride and blasphemy are cut down; the motif of severing Brahmā’s head resonates with Bhairava/Kapāla narratives tied to Kāśī’s expiation and lordship.

Significance: Removes pāpa and grants jñāna-vairāgya; Kāśī is famed for liberation-bestowing grace under Viśvanātha’s protection.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva (Pati), the supreme Lord, protects dharma by restraining ego and blasphemy; Śiva-nindā is a grave fault that binds the soul (paśu) with pasha (bondage) and blocks liberating knowledge.

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

The episode underscores reverence toward Saguna Śiva as the accessible form of the Supreme; honoring Śiva through Liṅga-worship cultivates humility and devotion, while contempt for Śiva leads to spiritual downfall.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice humility and daily Śiva-smaraṇa with the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and avoid śiva-nindā; traditional Shaiva discipline may include Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of surrender to Śiva.