Shloka 28

Devanagari script

स्थितिचक्रमिदं ब्रह्मन्प्रतिष्ठारूपमुत्तमम् । जनार्दनाधिष्ठितं च परमं पदमुच्यते

Transliteration

sthiticakramidaṃ brahmanpratiṣṭhārūpamuttamam | janārdanādhiṣṭhitaṃ ca paramaṃ padamucyate

Translation

O Brahman, this wheel of sustentation is of the highest kind, having the nature of firm establishment. Presided over by Janārdana (Viṣṇu), it is spoken of as the supreme station.

Word by Word

• स्थिति-चक्रम्: the cycle of sustenance
• स्थिति-चक्रम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थिति (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: 'of maintenance' + 'wheel/cycle'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahman (sage)
• ब्रह्मन्: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (सम्बोधनप्रयोगे), सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; Vocative Singular

• प्रतिष्ठा-रूपम्: having the form of a foundation
• प्रतिष्ठा-रूपम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतिष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/षष्ठीभाव: 'having the form of foundation'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjectival to चक्रम्

• उत्तमम्: supreme; excellent
• उत्तमम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; superlative adjective

• जनार्दन-अधिष्ठितम्: presided over by Janārdana (Viṣṇu)
• जनार्दन-अधिष्ठितम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिष्ठित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (तृतीया: 'by Janārdana' + past passive participle), क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (PPP) from अधि-स्था/अधिष्ठा, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjectival to पदम्/चक्रम्

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

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjectival to पदम्

• पदम्: state; abode; position
• पदम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative Singular

• उच्यते: is called
• उच्यते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद, कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (in a philosophical discourse of the Kailasa Samhita, instructing a sage addressed as 'Brahman')

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It identifies the universe’s sustaining order (sthiti) as a divinely governed principle and points the seeker toward the “supreme station” beyond instability—steadiness grounded in the highest reality, approached through right understanding and devotion.

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

While it notes Viṣṇu’s role in presiding over sustenance, the Kailāsa-saṃhitā frames all cosmic functions as operating under the supreme Lord’s ordinance; Linga-worship trains the mind to rest in that highest support (pratiṣṭhā), seeing cosmic order as a doorway to the Supreme.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on stability (pratiṣṭhā) by daily Linga-pūjā with mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and cultivate inner steadiness through dhyāna—recognizing the sustaining power in all experience while seeking the supreme state.