Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 47

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

Devanagari script

उत्पादकत्वाद्रजसोतिरेकाल्लोकस्य संतानविवृद्धिहेतून् । अष्टौ विकारानपि चादिकाले सृष्ट्वा समश्नाति तथांतकाले

Transliteration

utpādakatvādrajasotirekāllokasya saṃtānavivṛddhihetūn | aṣṭau vikārānapi cādikāle sṛṣṭvā samaśnāti tathāṃtakāle

Translation

Because rajas predominates and bears the power of generation, it becomes the cause of the world’s continuity and the increase of progeny. In the beginning it creates even the eight transformations (vikāras), and at the end of time it likewise consumes and reabsorbs them.

Word by Word

• उत्पादकत्वात्: because of (its) producing nature
• उत्पादकत्वात्: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्पादकत्व (प्रातिपदिक; उत्पादक + त्व)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (because of)

• रजसः: of rajas (the quality of activity)
• रजसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अतिरेकात्: from excess
• अतिरेकात्: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिरेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे

• लोकस्य: of the world
• लोकस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• संतान-विवृद्धि-हेतून्: causes of continuity and growth
• संतान-विवृद्धि-हेतून्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संतान + विवृद्धि + हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (causes of continuity and increase)

• अष्टौ: eight
• अष्टौ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन् (संख्याशब्द-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण (qualifying विकारान्)

• विकारान्: transformations/modifications
• विकारान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle): ‘also/even’

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

• आदि-काले: at the beginning (of creation)
• आदि-काले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time-location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘आदिः कालः’ इति कर्मधारयवत्/तत्पुरुषप्रयोगः (at the beginning time)

• सृष्ट्वा: having created
• सृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण (gerund/absolutive): ‘having created’

• समश्नाति: consumes completely
• समश्नाति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: सम् (completely)

• तथा: likewise/so
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner): ‘thus/likewise’

• अन्त-काले: at the end (time)
• अन्त-काले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time-location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘अन्तस्य कालः’ (at the end time)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā teachings to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: kalpa-sṛṣṭi and pralaya (cyclic emanation and reabsorption)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It explains how rajas—restless activity—drives worldly continuity (saṃtāna) and expansion, yet is also reabsorbed at dissolution; thus, liberation requires rising beyond guṇa-driven compulsion by taking refuge in Pati (Shiva), the transcendent Lord.

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

By showing that guṇas govern creation and dissolution, it points devotees to Saguna Shiva (Linga as the worshipful form) as the stabilizing refuge who grants grace to overcome rajas and its karmic momentum, leading the soul toward Shiva’s higher, guṇa-transcending reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to pacify rajas through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), steady breath and mind (dhyāna), and Shaiva disciplines like Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and Rudrākṣa as supports for restraint and inwardness.