Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 20

त्रिमूर्तिसाम्यं तथा महेश्वरस्य परमार्थकारणत्वम् | Equality of the Trimūrti and Maheśvara as the Supreme Cause

Devanagari script

पुरुषाधिष्ठितत्वाच्च अव्यक्तानुग्रहेण च । महदादिविशेषान्ता ह्यण्डमुत्पादयन्ति ते

Transliteration

puruṣādhiṣṭhitatvācca avyaktānugraheṇa ca | mahadādiviśeṣāntā hyaṇḍamutpādayanti te

Translation

Because they are presided over by Puruṣa (the Supreme Lord) and because the Unmanifest (Avyakta) grants its enabling support, those principles—from Mahat onward up to the particularized elements—bring forth the cosmic egg (aṇḍa).

Word by Word

• पुरुष-अधिष्ठितत्वात्: because of being presided over by the Puruṣa
• पुरुष-अधिष्ठितत्वात्: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिष्ठितत्व (प्रातिपदिक; √स्था/स्थि (धातु) से निष्पन्न)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; हेतु/कारणार्थे पञ्चमी (ablative of cause)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अव्यक्त-अनुग्रहेण: by the favor of the Unmanifest (Avyakta)
• अव्यक्त-अनुग्रहेण: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अव्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; साधन/हेतौ तृतीया (instrumental of means/cause)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• महत्-आदि-विशेष-अन्ताः: those (principles) beginning with Mahat and ending with Viśeṣa
• महत्-आदि-विशेष-अन्ताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + विशेष (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—'येषां महदादिः आरम्भः, विशेषः अन्तः' इति (those whose beginning is Mahat and end is Viśeṣa)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• अण्डम्: the cosmic egg
• अण्डम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• उत्पादयन्ति: produce, generate
• उत्पादयन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्+√पद्/√पाद् (धातु) (उत्पादयति)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: kalpa-sṛṣṭi (cosmic manifestation via aṇḍa)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that creation is not merely mechanical: the tattvas function only when presided over by Puruṣa (Shiva as Pati) and supported by the Unmanifest, pointing seekers to the Lord as the inner governor of all evolution.

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

The Linga signifies Shiva as the transcendent presider (Puruṣa) within the manifest universe; worship aligns the devotee with that ruling consciousness behind Mahat, ego, and the elements, recognizing Saguna creation as rooted in Shiva’s higher reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the indwelling Puruṣa while repeating the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), contemplating the rise of tattvas from the Unmanifest and offering them back into Shiva through inner surrender.