Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 75

सर्गविभागवर्णनम्

Classification of Creation: the Nine Sargas and the Streams of Beings

Devanagari script

धर्माधर्मसुपुष्पाढ्यः सुखदुःखफलोदयः । आजीव्यः सर्वभूतानां ब्रह्मवृक्षः सनातनः । द्यां मूर्धानं तस्य विप्रा वदंति खं वै नाभिं चंद्रसूर्यौ च नेत्रे । दिशः श्रोत्रे चरणौ च क्षितिं च सो ऽचिन्त्यात्मा सर्वभूतप्रणेता

Transliteration

dharmādharmasupuṣpāḍhyaḥ sukhaduḥkhaphalodayaḥ | ājīvyaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ brahmavṛkṣaḥ sanātanaḥ | dyāṃ mūrdhānaṃ tasya viprā vadaṃti khaṃ vai nābhiṃ caṃdrasūryau ca netre | diśaḥ śrotre caraṇau ca kṣitiṃ ca so 'cintyātmā sarvabhūtapraṇetā

Translation

Abounding in the blossoms of dharma and adharma, and bringing forth the fruits of pleasure and pain, that eternal Brahma-tree becomes the very livelihood of all beings. The sages declare that its head is the heaven; its navel is the sky; the moon and the sun are its eyes; the directions are its ears; and the earth is its feet. He—of inconceivable nature—is the impelling guide and ordainer of all beings.

Word by Word

• dharma-adharma-su-puṣpa-āḍhyaḥ: rich with the fine flowers of dharma and adharma
• dharma-adharma-su-puṣpa-āḍhyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + adharma (प्रातिपदिक) + su-puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक) + āḍhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—बहुव्रीहिः (धर्माधर्मौ सुपुष्पे इव यस्य; सुपुष्पैः आढ्यः)

• sukha-duḥkha-phala-udayaḥ: from which arise the fruits of pleasure and pain
• sukha-duḥkha-phala-udayaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक) + duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक) + phala (प्रातिपदिक) + udaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—बहुव्रीहिः (सुखदुःखफलानाम् उदयः यस्य)

• ājīvyaḥ: a means of livelihood, sustaining
• ājīvyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ājīvya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• sarva-bhūtānām: of all beings
• sarva-bhūtānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सर्वाणि भूतानि)

• brahma-vṛkṣaḥ: the Brahma-tree
• brahma-vṛkṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः वृक्षः)

• sanātanaḥ: eternal
• sanātanaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sanātana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• dyām: the heaven
• dyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: div (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• mūrdhānam: head
• mūrdhānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• tasya: of it/of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); सर्वनाम

• viprāḥ: the sages/brāhmaṇas
• viprāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• vadanti: say, declare
• vadanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vad (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्/Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); parasmaipada

• kham: the sky/space
• kham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle/emphasis (निश्चयार्थक अव्यय)

• nābhim: navel
• nābhim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nābhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• candra-sūryau: the moon and the sun
• candra-sūryau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candra (प्रातिपदिक) + sūrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); समासः—द्वन्द्वः (चन्द्रश्च सूर्यश्च)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• netre: (two) eyes
• netre: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: netra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Dual (द्विवचन)

• diśaḥ: the directions
• diśaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• śrotre: (two) ears
• śrotre: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrotra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Dual (द्विवचन)

• caraṇau: (two) feet
• caraṇau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Dual (द्विवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• kṣitim: the earth
• kṣitim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣiti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• saḥ: he/that (tree)
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); सर्वनाम

• acintya-ātmā: the inconceivable Self
• acintya-ātmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-cintya (कृदन्त/विशेषण, √cint) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—कर्मधारयः (अचिन्त्यः आत्मा यस्य/अचिन्त्यात्मा)

• sarva-bhūta-praṇetā: leader/guide of all beings
• sarva-bhūta-praṇetā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (प्रातिपदिक) + praṇetṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सर्वभूतानां प्रणेता)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya teaching to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sun
• Moon

FAQs

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

It presents the universe as a single cosmic ‘tree’ sustained by the Lord, where karma (dharma and adharma) blossoms and ripens into lived experience (pleasure and pain). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, this points to Pati (the Lord) as the inconceivable governor who enables the moral order while guiding beings toward liberation.

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

By describing a cosmic body with sun and moon as eyes and the directions as ears, it supports Saguna contemplation—seeing the whole cosmos as Shiva’s manifest form. Linga worship gathers this vastness into a single sacred focus, training the mind to recognize the Lord as the inner ruler (antaryāmin) of all beings.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is cosmic-form (viśvarūpa) meditation: mentally offer the sun and moon, the directions, and the earth into Shiva as an inner worship. For Shaiva practice, this can be paired with steady japa of the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” aligning one’s actions so dharma ‘blossoms’ and karmic bondage weakens.