Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 5

रुद्राविर्भावकारणम् — Causes and Pattern of Rudra’s Manifestation

Pratikalpa

Devanagari script

स एव भगवानीशस्तेजोराशिरनामयः । अनादिनिधनोधाता भूतसंकोचको विभुः

Transliteration

sa eva bhagavānīśastejorāśiranāmayaḥ | anādinidhanodhātā bhūtasaṃkocako vibhuḥ

Translation

He alone is the Blessed Lord, Īśa—an immense mass of divine radiance, untouched by any affliction. Beginningless and endless, He is the Sustainer, the all-pervading Master who can withdraw and gather all beings back into Himself.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ईशः: the Lord
• ईशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (भगवान् इत्यस्य समानाधिकरणम्)

• तेजः-राशिः: a mass of splendor
• तेजः-राशिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक) + राशि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अनामयः: spotless, free from affliction
• अनामयः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-आमय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वक ‘free from disease/blemish’

• अनादि-निधनः: beginningless and endless
• अनादि-निधनः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्-आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + निधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (आदि च निधनं च; नञ्-पूर्वक), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘without beginning and end’

• धाता: the sustainer/creator
• धाता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धा (धातु)
• Form: तृच्-प्रत्ययान्त कर्तृवाचक कृदन्त (agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘supporter/creator’

• भूत-संकोचकः: the withdrawer of beings
• भूत-संकोचकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + संकोचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘one who contracts/withdraws beings’

• विभुः: the all-pervading one
• विभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: pralaya-idea: contraction/withdrawal of beings into the Lord (bhūta-saṃkoca)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

This verse establishes Shiva as Pati—the supreme, beginningless and endless Lord—pure, untouched by suffering, who sustains the cosmos and also draws all beings back at dissolution, pointing the seeker toward liberation through realizing His all-pervading sovereignty.

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

Calling Shiva a “mass of radiance” aligns with the Linga as a sacred focus for the formless (nirguṇa) reality appearing in a worshipable (saguṇa) form—devotees contemplate the radiant Lord through Linga-upāsanā while understanding Him as beyond limitation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as tejo-rāśi (pure light) while repeating the Panchākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and offer Tripuṇḍra bhasma with the intent of inner purification, remembering Him as anāmaya (free from all affliction).