Shloka 38

विष्णूत्पत्तिवर्णनम्

Description of the Origin/Manifestation of Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

ततः पुमानाविरासीदेकस्त्रैलोक्यसुंदरः । शांतस्सत्त्वगुणोद्रिक्तो गांभीर्य्यामितसागरः

Transliteration

tataḥ pumānāvirāsīdekastrailokyasuṃdaraḥ | śāṃtassattvaguṇodrikto gāṃbhīryyāmitasāgaraḥ

Translation

Then there manifested a single Divine Person, beautiful to all the three worlds—peaceful in nature, abounding in the quality of sattva, and profound like an immeasurable ocean.

Word by Word

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: सम्बन्ध/कालाधिकरण (Temporal connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादानार्थ/क्रम (from then/thereafter)

• पुमान्: a man/person
• पुमान्: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुमांस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• आविरासीत्: appeared, became manifest
• आविरासीत्: क्रिया (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आविर्-भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; ‘आविर्’ उपसर्गवत् (became manifest)

• एकः: one, single
• एकः: विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• त्रैलोक्यसुन्दरः: beautiful in the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्यसुन्दरः: विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रैलोक्य + सुन्दर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘त्रैलोक्यस्य सुन्दरः’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शान्तः: peaceful
• शान्तः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (प्रातिपदिक; √शम् + क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle used adjectivally); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सत्त्वगुणोद्रिक्तः: abounding in the sattva quality
• सत्त्वगुणोद्रिक्तः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्त्वगुण + उद्रिक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सत्त्वगुणेन उद्रिक्तः/सत्त्वगुण-उद्रिक्तः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• गाम्भीर्य-अमित-सागरः: whose depth is an immeasurable ocean
• गाम्भीर्य-अमित-सागरः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गाम्भीर्य + अमित + सागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘गाम्भीर्येण अमितः सागर इव यस्य सः’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It portrays the first manifesting Divine Person as serene, sattva-dominant, and unfathomably profound—indicating that creation proceeds from Shiva’s ordered, grace-filled (anugraha) manifestation, leading souls toward clarity, devotion, and liberation.

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

By describing a perceivable, attribute-bearing manifestation (śānta, sattvic, beautiful), the verse supports Saguna-upāsanā—worship of Shiva with form and qualities—of which the Śiva-liṅga is the central, accessible symbol in the Shiva Purana.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as ‘śānta’ (peace itself) and as an ‘amita-sāgara’ (boundless ocean) while chanting the Panchākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—cultivating sattva through purity, calm breath, and steady japa.