Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 29

कालमान-निर्णयः

Determination of the Measures of Time

Devanagari script

तन्मात्राण्यथ भूतादिर्बुद्धिश्च सह दैवतः । अहस्तिष्ठंति सर्वाणि पारमेशस्य धीमतः

Transliteration

tanmātrāṇyatha bhūtādirbuddhiśca saha daivataḥ | ahastiṣṭhaṃti sarvāṇi pārameśasya dhīmataḥ

Translation

Dann bestehen die Tanmātras, der Urgrund der grobstofflichen Elemente, und der Intellekt—mitsamt ihren leitenden Gottheiten—nur durch den weisen höchsten Herrn, Parameśvara, und wirken allein durch ihn.

Word by Word

• तन्मात्राणि: subtle elements (tanmātras)
• तन्मात्राणि: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् + मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (तस्य/तत्-सम्बन्धिनि मात्राणि = tanmātras); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (N), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom/1st), बहुवचन (Pl)

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध (Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तर/क्रम-बोधक अव्यय (then/and further)

• भूतादिः: the origin of the elements
• भूतादिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (भूतानाम् आदिः = origin of elements); पुंलिङ्ग (M), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom/1st), एकवचन (Sg)

• बुद्धिः: intellect
• बुद्धिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (F), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom/1st), एकवचन (Sg)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• सह: together with
• सह: सहकारक (Association)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सहार्थक अव्यय/उपसर्गवत् (with; associative particle)

• दैवतः: the presiding deity/deity-factor
• दैवतः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (N), प्रथमा/पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Nom/Abl), एकवचन (Sg); अत्र प्रथमा (subject) अधिक युक्ता

• अह: indeed/now (particle)
• अह: वाक्योपपादक (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अत्र ‘अह’ इति पाठः सम्भाव्यः, अर्थतः ‘here/indeed’ इत्यादि; (पाठभेदे ‘अहः’ इति स्यात्)

• तिष्ठन्ति: stand/abide
• तिष्ठन्ति: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Pl); परस्मैपदम्

• सर्वाणि: all
• सर्वाणि: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (N), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom/1st), बहुवचन (Pl); विशेषणम्

• पारमेशस्य: of the Supreme Lord (Parameśa)
• पारमेशस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पारमेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (M), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Gen/6th), एकवचन (Sg)

• धीमतः: of the wise
• धीमतः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (M), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Gen/6th), एकवचन (Sg); विशेषणम् (पारमेशस्य)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Tatpuruṣa

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that all cosmic principles—subtle elements, intellect, and even their governing deities—are not independent; they subsist and act only through Parameśvara (Shiva), the supreme Pati who transcends and supports all tattvas.

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

Linga worship trains the mind to recognize one Supreme Lord behind every power in the universe; the verse supports Saguna devotion as a gateway to realizing Shiva as the inner controller of both the subtle (tanmātras) and gross creation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the indwelling ruler (antaryāmin) while repeating the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and offer water/bhasma with the insight that all senses and elements are upheld by Him.