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Shloka 3

विष्णूत्पत्तिवर्णनम्

Description of the Origin/Manifestation of Viṣṇu

शिवतत्त्वं मया नैव विष्णुनापि यथार्थतः । ज्ञातश्च परमं रूपमद्भुतं च परेण न

śivatattvaṃ mayā naiva viṣṇunāpi yathārthataḥ | jñātaśca paramaṃ rūpamadbhutaṃ ca pareṇa na

“The true principle of Śiva has not been known in reality—neither by me nor even by Viṣṇu. Nor has that supreme, wondrous form been fully comprehended by any other being.”

śiva-tattvamthe principle/reality of Śiva
śiva-tattvam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootśiva (प्रातिपदिक) + tattva (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष-समास: 'śivasya tattvam'
mayāby me
mayā:
Kartṛ-karaṇa (कर्तृ-करण)
TypeNoun
Rootasmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormInstrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)
nanot
na:
Negation (निषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya (अव्यय), negation particle (निषेध)
evaeven; indeed
eva:
Emphasis (निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rooteva (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya (अव्यय), restrictive/emphatic particle (निपात)
viṣṇunāby Viṣṇu
viṣṇunā:
Kartṛ-karaṇa (कर्तृ-करण)
TypeNoun
Rootviṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)
apialso; even
api:
Emphasis (निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootapi (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya (अव्यय), particle (निपात): 'also/even'
yathārthataḥtruly; as it really is
yathārthataḥ:
Prakāra (प्रकार)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootyathā + artha (प्रातिपदिक) + tas (तसिल्-प्रत्यय)
FormAvyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) formed with -tas (तसिल्): 'in accordance with reality/truly'
jñātaḥknown
jñātaḥ:
Kriyā (क्रिया) / Predicate (विधेय)
TypeVerb
Rootjñā (धातु)
FormPast passive participle (क्त/कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); used predicatively: 'known'
caand
ca:
Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चय)
paramamsupreme
paramam:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootparama (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with rūpam
rūpamform
rūpam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootrūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
adbhutamwonderful
adbhutam:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootadbhuta (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with rūpam
caand
ca:
Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चय)
pareṇaby another (one)
pareṇa:
Kartṛ-karaṇa (कर्तृ-करण)
TypeNoun
Rootpara (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); here: 'by another/superior one'
nanot
na:
Negation (निषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya (अव्यय), negation particle (निषेध)

Brahmā

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

S
Shiva
V
Vishnu
B
Brahma

FAQs

It affirms Śiva-tattva as transcendent and limitless: even cosmic authorities like Brahmā and Viṣṇu cannot grasp Him fully, indicating that liberation requires Śiva’s grace and a devotional, inward realization rather than mere intellectual reach.

Because the supreme reality is beyond complete conceptualization, the Purāṇa supports approaching Śiva through accessible manifestations—especially the Śiva-liṅga—as a sacred focus where the Nirguṇa truth is honored through a Saguna symbol and rite.

A practical takeaway is mantra-japa with the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) combined with liṅga-pūjā and contemplative humility, seeking direct experience and Śiva’s anugraha (grace) rather than claiming total conceptual mastery.