Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 17

पशु-पाश-पतिविचारः / Inquiry into Paśu, Pāśa, and Pati

Devanagari script

हिरण्यगर्भं देवानां प्रथमं जनयेदयम् । विश्वस्मादधिको रुद्रो महर्षिरिति हि श्रुतिः

Transliteration

hiraṇyagarbhaṃ devānāṃ prathamaṃ janayedayam | viśvasmādadhiko rudro maharṣiriti hi śrutiḥ

Translation

Er (Rudra) bringt zuerst Hiraṇyagarbha (Brahmā) hervor, den ersten Erzeuger der Götter. Wahrlich, die Śruti verkündet, dass Rudra—der große Ṛṣi—über dem ganzen manifesten Universum steht.

Word by Word

• हिरण्यगर्भम्: Hiraṇyagarbha
• हिरण्यगर्भम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिरण्य + गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन

• प्रथमम्: first
• प्रथमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbially: 'first')

• जनयेत्: would/should generate
• जनयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जन् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• अयम्: this one (he)
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• विश्वस्मात्: from the universe / than the universe
• विश्वस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• अधिकः: greater/superior
• अधिकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying रुद्रः)

• रुद्रः: Rudra
• रुद्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महर्षिः: great sage
• महर्षिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतु/निश्चय-अव्यय (particle: indeed/for)

• श्रुतिः: the scripture/Śruti
• श्रुतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: first emanation: Hiraṇyagarbha; assertion of Rudra’s transcendence beyond viśva

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Shiva
• Hiranyagarbha
• Brahma
• Shruti

FAQs

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

The verse asserts Pati-tattva: Rudra (Śiva) is the supreme reality who precedes and transcends the created universe, even generating Hiraṇyagarbha (Brahmā). For the seeker, it grounds devotion and liberation in the worship of Śiva as the ultimate source and goal.

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

By declaring Rudra superior to the universe and the origin of Brahmā, the verse supports Linga-worship as adoration of the transcendent Pati made accessible through a sacred form (saguṇa upāsanā). The Linga signifies Śiva beyond all categories while allowing focused devotion and meditation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily Rudra-upāsanā—mentally placing Śiva above all worldly identifications, repeating the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and meditating on the Linga as the source of creation and the giver of mokṣa.