Shloka 17

अध्याय ४९ — विवाहानुष्ठाने ब्रह्मणः काममोहः

Brahmā’s Enchantment by Desire during the Wedding Rites

Devanagari script

विश्वस्य हेतुरुदयस्थितिसंयमनस्य हि । तदपेक्षतयात्मेशोऽनपेक्षस्सर्वदा विभुः

Transliteration

viśvasya heturudayasthitisaṃyamanasya hi | tadapekṣatayātmeśo'napekṣassarvadā vibhuḥ

Translation

Indeed, He is the cause of the universe’s arising, continuance, and restraint (dissolution). Yet the Lord of the Self, the all-pervading Vibhū, remains forever independent—unconditioned and needing nothing, even though all things depend upon Him.

Word by Word

• viśvasya: of the universe
• viśvasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• hetuḥ: cause
• hetuḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hetu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• udaya: arising, origination
• udaya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक; समासाङ्ग (member)

• sthiti: maintenance, continuance
• sthiti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthiti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक; समासाङ्ग

• saṃyamana: restraint, dissolution/control
• saṃyamana: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃyamana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (प्रयोगे), प्रातिपदिक; समासाङ्ग

• asya: of it (of that)
• asya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; ‘udaya-sthiti-saṃyamana’ इत्यस्य षष्ठी

• hi: indeed, for
• hi: Hetu-marker (हेतु-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चये निपात (particle)

• tat: by/with respect to that
• tat: Hetu (हेतु/Instrumental-cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘तद्-अपेक्षतया’ इत्यत्र समासाङ्ग

• apekṣatayā: by dependence, by requiring
• apekṣatayā: Hetu (हेतु/Reason)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apekṣatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; भाववाचक (abstract noun)

• ātma-īśaḥ: the Lord (Ātmeśa)
• ātma-īśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: आत्मनः ईशः (Lord of self)

• anapekṣaḥ: independent, not dependent
• anapekṣaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anapekṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वक (independent)

• sarvadā: always
• sarvadā: Kāla (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• vibhuḥ: the all-pervading one, mighty Lord
• vibhuḥ: Pratijna/Complement (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेष्य/उपाधि

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Affirms Śiva as independent cause; contemplation of His pañcakṛtya-oriented lordship supports īśvara-bhāvanā and surrender (śaraṇāgati).

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes Śiva as Pati—the ultimate, independent Reality—who governs creation, preservation, and dissolution, while all souls and worlds remain dependent on Him; realizing this dependence leads to surrender and liberation.

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

Linga worship honors Śiva as the transcendent yet immanent Lord: though beyond all needs (anapekṣa), He becomes the accessible cosmic ruler (Saguna) who supports and withdraws the universe.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with the attitude of dependence on Śiva alone, optionally accompanied by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of His all-pervading lordship.