Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 16

रुद्रस्य परमात्मत्वे ब्रह्मपुत्रत्वादिसंशयप्रश्नः — Questions on Rudra’s Supremacy and His ‘Sonship’ to Brahmā

Devanagari script

तथाप्यन्योन्यमात्सर्यादन्योन्यातिशयाशिनः । तपसा तोषयित्वा स्वं पितरं परमेश्वरम्

Transliteration

tathāpyanyonyamātsaryādanyonyātiśayāśinaḥ | tapasā toṣayitvā svaṃ pitaraṃ parameśvaram

Translation

Yet, through mutual jealousy and the urge to outdo one another, they strove for superiority; and by austerity (tapas) they satisfied their own Father—the Supreme Lord, Parameśvara.

Word by Word

• तथा: even so/thus
• तथा: सम्बन्ध/निपात
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• अपि: yet/also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/निपात
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle)

• अन्योन्य-मात्सर्यात्: from mutual jealousy
• अन्योन्य-मात्सर्यात्: हेतु (Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्योन्य + मात्सर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (mutual + jealousy)

• अन्योन्य-अतिशय-आशिनः: seeking to outdo one another
• अन्योन्य-अतिशय-आशिनः: कर्ता (Subject; describing ‘they’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्योन्य + अतिशय + आशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (one who eats/feeds on surpassing one another)

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: करण (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• तोषयित्वा: having pleased
• तोषयित्वा: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तुष् (धातु) → तोषयित्वा (कृदन्त, तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय/क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), परस्मैपदी-प्रयोगार्थ

• स्वम्: one’s own
• स्वम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण

• पितरम्: father
• पितरम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• परमेश्वरम्: the Supreme Lord
• परमेश्वरम्: कर्म (Object; apposition to पितरम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (supreme + lord)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: tapas as a cosmic mechanism to obtain īśvara-prasāda (grace/boon) even among high deities; competitive striving within cyclic administration

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It shows that even imperfect motives like rivalry can be redirected into tapas, and when that discipline is offered to Parameśvara (Śiva as Pati), it becomes a means of inner purification and divine grace.

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

Calling Śiva “Parameśvara” and “Father” aligns with Saguna devotion where the seeker approaches the Lord personally; tapas and worship (including Liṅga-upāsanā) are presented as ways to please Him and receive His anugraha (grace).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is disciplined tapas supported by Shaiva practice—regular japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” mental worship of Śiva, and a life of restraint—performed with the intention to please Parameśvara rather than to defeat others.