Shloka 42

Devanagari script

अलातचक्रभ्रमिवदविच्छिन्नलयोदयम् । परितो वर्तते यस्मात्तस्माच्चक्रमितीरितम्

Transliteration

alātacakrabhramivadavicchinnalayodayam | parito vartate yasmāttasmāccakramitīritam

Translation

Like the whirling of a firebrand that seems to form a wheel, it appears as an unbroken continuum of dissolution and manifestation. Since it thus moves all around, it is therefore called a “chakra” (wheel/cycle).

Word by Word

• अलात-चक्र-भ्रमि-वत्: like the whirling of a firebrand-wheel
• अलात-चक्र-भ्रमि-वत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Upamā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: alāta (प्रातिपदिक) + cakra (प्रातिपदिक) + bhrami (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (तद्धित)
• Form: समासः (determinative) + वत्-प्रत्यय (possessive/comparative suffix); अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (indeclinable-like in comparison)

• अविच्छिन्न-लय-उदयम्: with uninterrupted dissolution and arising
• अविच्छिन्न-लय-उदयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (उपसर्ग/नञ्) + vicchinna (कृदन्त) + laya (प्रातिपदिक) + udaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषभाव: 'unbroken dissolution-and-arising'; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies चक्रम्)

• परितः: all around
• परितः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paritas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपसर्गार्थक/क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• वर्तते: turns/exists/continues
• वर्तते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛt (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• यस्मात्: from which/because of which
• यस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी (Ablative/पञ्चमी), एकवचन

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that
• तस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• चक्रम्: wheel
• चक्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणार्थक अव्यय (quotative)

• ईरितम्: is declared/has been stated
• ईरितम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √īr (धातु) → īrita (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेयविशेषण (predicate adjective)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Naṭarāja

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: The firebrand-wheel simile supports contemplation of saṃsāra as apparent continuity produced by rapid alternation of arising and dissolution; motivates seeking Pati’s grace to transcend pāśa (bondage).

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Cyclic laya-udaya (recurrent dissolution and manifestation)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It explains how the world-process appears continuous—like a circle of fire—because creation (udaya) and dissolution (laya) recur without break; recognizing this ‘chakra’ helps the seeker turn from changing appearances toward Shiva, the steady Pati beyond the cycle.

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

The chakra of recurring manifestation and withdrawal points to the need for an unchanging refuge; worship of the Linga as Saguna-Shiva steadies the mind and leads it toward the Nirguna reality of Shiva that is not swept by the revolving cycle.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namah Shivaya) with steady breath and contemplation: observe thoughts arising and dissolving like the firebrand-wheel, and rest attention in Shiva as the witnessing consciousness beyond laya-udaya.