Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 74

द्वितीयतृतीयावरणपूजाक्रमः | The Sequence of the Second and Third Enclosure Worship (Āvaraṇa-pūjā)

Devanagari script

भुवनान्यन्तरण्डस्य ततो ब्रह्माण्डकोटयः । बहिरंडान्यसंख्यानि भुवनानि सहाधिपैः

Transliteration

bhuvanānyantaraṇḍasya tato brahmāṇḍakoṭayaḥ | bahiraṃḍānyasaṃkhyāni bhuvanāni sahādhipaiḥ

Translation

Within each cosmic egg (aṇḍa) are worlds; from it arise crores of brahmāṇḍas. And beyond, there are countless other eggs as well—worlds without number, each together with its presiding lords.

Word by Word

• भुवनानि: worlds
• भुवनानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), बहुवचनम्

• अन्तर-अण्डस्य: of the inner egg (cosmic sphere)
• अन्तर-अण्डस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + अण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/6th), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (अण्डस्य अन्तरम्/अन्तर्गत-अण्ड)

• ततः: then/from that
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादान/क्रमसूचक (ablatival adverb: ‘thereupon/from that’)

• ब्रह्माण्ड-कोटयः: crores of Brahmāṇḍas
• ब्रह्माण्ड-कोटयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म-अण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), बहुवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्माण्डानां कोटयः)

• बहिः-अण्डानि: outer cosmic eggs
• बहिः-अण्डानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहिः (अव्यय) + अण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), बहुवचनम्; अव्ययीभावः (बहिः + अण्डानि = ‘outer eggs’)

• असंख्यानि: countless
• असंख्यानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असंख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• भुवनानि: worlds
• भुवनानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), बहुवचनम्

• सह-अधिपैः: with (their) rulers
• सह-अधिपैः: Sahārtha/Karaṇa (सहार्थ/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सह (अव्यय) + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचनम्; अव्ययीभावः (सह + अधिपैः = ‘together with rulers’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: ananta-brahmāṇḍa-vāda (countless universes and their presiding lords)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

It expands the vision of creation as immeasurable—countless worlds and rulers—implying that liberation is not found by traversing cosmology, but by realizing Shiva (Pati) who transcends all brahmāṇḍas and releases the bound soul (pashu) from pasha.

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

The innumerable universe-eggs and their lords are Saguna manifestations within time and causality, whereas the Shiva-Linga signifies the One Lord who is immanent in all worlds yet not confined by any single cosmos—thus Linga-worship centers the seeker on the transcendent Pati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara—"Om Namaḥ Śivāya"—with meditation that Shiva pervades all brahmāṇḍas yet is beyond them; on Mahāśivarātri, this contemplation is traditionally supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and steady mantra-japa.