Shloka 42

देवर्षि-प्रश्नः तथा असुर-वध-हेतुनिवेदनम् | The Devas’ Petition and the Cause for Slaying Asuras

Devanagari script

त्वं वा विष्णुरहं वापि शिवस्य ब्रह्मरूपिणः । अंशभूता महाभागा योग्यं तदनुचिंतनम्

Transliteration

tvaṃ vā viṣṇurahaṃ vāpi śivasya brahmarūpiṇaḥ | aṃśabhūtā mahābhāgā yogyaṃ tadanuciṃtanam

Translation

Whether you are Viṣṇu or I am Viṣṇu—O greatly fortunate one, both of us are but portions of Śiva, whose nature is Brahman. Therefore it is fitting to contemplate that truth again and again.

Word by Word

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• शिवस्य: of Śiva
• शिवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case/genitive), एकवचन

• ब्रह्म-रूपिणः: of (him) whose form is Brahman
• ब्रह्म-रूपिणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘ब्रह्मरूपः’ (having Brahman-form)

• अंश-भूता: having become portions
• अंश-भूता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अंश + भूत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √भू)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन (सम्बोधनार्थे/प्रथमा-बहुवचन); ‘अंशः भूता’ = ‘having become a part’

• महाभागाः: greatly fortunate ones
• महाभागाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: महा + भाग (greatly fortunate)

• योग्यम्: proper/fit
• योग्यम्: Vidhaya (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: योग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• तत्-अनुचिन्तनम्: that continued contemplation
• तत्-अनुचिन्तनम्: Karta/Karma (कर्ता/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अनुचिन्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘तत्’ = सर्वनाम-विशेषण

Speaker

Brahmā (inferred, Satīkhaṇḍa dialogue context addressing Viṣṇu)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It teaches that Brahmā and Viṣṇu are not independent supremes but partial manifestations (aṃśas) of Śiva, who is Brahman; liberation-oriented practice begins with steady contemplation of this highest principle (Pati-tattva).

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

By affirming Śiva as Brahman, it grounds Liṅga-worship as a saguna support for meditating on the nirguna truth—devotion to the Liṅga becomes a means to realize Śiva’s supreme, all-pervading reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse explicitly recommends anucintana—repeated contemplation—practically done through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and focused meditation on Śiva/Śiva-liṅga as the one Brahman.