Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 36

लिङ्गप्रतिष्ठा-माहात्म्यम् / The Greatness of Liṅga Installation

Devanagari script

तदा समुद्यतौ स्यातां तस्याद्यंतं परीक्षितुम् । तत्र हंसाकृतिर्ब्रह्मा विश्वतः पक्षसंयुतः

Transliteration

tadā samudyatau syātāṃ tasyādyaṃtaṃ parīkṣitum | tatra haṃsākṛtirbrahmā viśvataḥ pakṣasaṃyutaḥ

Translation

Dann machten sich die beiden daran, Anfang und Ende jener grenzenlosen Offenbarung zu prüfen. Dort nahm Brahmā die Gestalt eines Schwans an, mit Flügeln, die sich nach allen Seiten ausbreiteten, um sie zu suchen.

Word by Word

• तदा: then
• तदा: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa: time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• समुद्यतौ: both prepared
• समुद्यतौ: कर्तृविशेषण (qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-उद्-यत (धातु √यत्, कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; ‘समुद्यत’ = prepared/risen up

• स्याताम्: (they) became / should be
• स्याताम्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; ‘they two should be/were’

• तस्य: of that (pillar/it)
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• आदि-अन्तम्: the beginning and the end
• आदि-अन्तम्: कर्म (Karma: object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (itaretara), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘beginning and end’ as a pair

• परीक्षितुम्: to examine
• परीक्षितुम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-√ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), ‘to examine/ascertain’

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa: place)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• हंस-आकृतिः: (one) of swan-form
• हंस-आकृतिः: कर्तृ (Karta: subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हंस + आकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (hamsasya ākṛtiḥ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: कर्तृ (Karta: subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• विश्वतः: from all sides
• विश्वतः: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विश्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), ‘from all sides/entirely’

• पक्ष-संयुतः: endowed with wings
• पक्ष-संयुतः: कर्तृविशेषण (qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पक्ष + संयुत (धातु √युज्, कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; ‘पक्षैः संयुतः’, भूतकृदन्त, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Liṅgodbhava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The classic contest of measurement begins: Brahmā takes haṃsa-form to seek the ‘top’ (ādi/ūrdhva limit) of the infinite liṅga—an enacted proof that the Absolute cannot be bounded by ascent/descent.

Significance: Symbolizes the futility of seeking Śiva’s limit through mere ‘vertical’ striving (power/achievement); encourages inward turning and devotion as the true path to realization.

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva teaching that the Supreme (Pati, Shiva) is without measurable beginning or end; even cosmic intellect (Brahmā) must acknowledge the Infinite that transcends all limits and concepts.

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

The Linga here signifies the boundless reality of Shiva: worship begins with a visible, saguna symbol, yet points the devotee toward Shiva’s nirguna infinity that cannot be fully “reached” by ordinary searching.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is contemplative Linga-dhyāna—meditating on Shiva as beginningless and endless—supported by japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to turn the mind from outward “measuring” to inward surrender.