Shloka 35

विष्णूत्पत्तिवर्णनम्

Description of the Origin/Manifestation of Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

चेतस्समुद्रमाकुंच्य चिंताकल्लोललोलितम् । सत्त्वरत्नं तमोग्राहं रजोविद्रुमवल्लितम्

Transliteration

cetassamudramākuṃcya ciṃtākallolalolitam | sattvaratnaṃ tamogrāhaṃ rajovidrumavallitam

Translation

Contracting the ocean of the mind—tossed about by the billows of anxiety—(one should discern it as) bearing the jewel of sattva, haunted by the crocodile of tamas, and hemmed in by the corals of rajas.

Word by Word

• cetasaḥ: of the mind
• cetasaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cetas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• samudram: ocean
• samudram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ākuṃcya: having contracted (drawn in)
• ākuṃcya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + kuñc (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), indeclinable; sense: having contracted/drawn in

• ciṃtā-kallola-lolitam: agitated by the waves of thought
• ciṃtā-kallola-lolitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ciṃtā (प्रातिपदिक) + kallola (प्रातिपदिक) + lolita (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); compound qualifying 'samudram'

• sattva-ratnam: a jewel of sattva (purity)
• sattva-ratnam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sattva (प्रातिपदिक) + ratna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); appositional to 'samudram'

• tamo-grāham: a crocodile of tamas (darkness)
• tamo-grāham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tamas (प्रातिपदिक) + grāha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); appositional descriptor

• rajas-vidruma-vallitam: surrounded/encircled by coral of rajas (passion)
• rajas-vidruma-vallitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rajas (प्रातिपदिक) + vidruma (प्रातिपदिक) + vallita (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying 'samudram'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It portrays the mind as an ocean bound by the three guṇas: even sattva is only a “jewel” within bondage, while rajas and tamas actively disturb and devour; liberation comes by withdrawing and steadying the mind toward Pati (Shiva), beyond the guṇas.

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

In Shaiva practice, Saguna Shiva—worshipped as the Linga—becomes the stabilizing focus that stills mental waves; devotion and contemplation of Shiva’s form lead the seeker from agitation (rajas/tamas) to clarity (sattva) and finally toward the transcendent Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is pratyāhāra and dhyāna: withdraw the senses, steady the breath, and repeat the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while visualizing the Shiva Linga, reducing anxiety-waves and weakening rajas and tamas.