Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 2

विष्णु-ब्रह्म-विवाद-वर्णनम्

Description of the Viṣṇu–Brahmā Dispute and Brahmā’s Confusion

Devanagari script

अनंतयष्टिकायुक्तं कर्णिकारसमप्रभम् । अनंतयोजनायाममनंतोच्छ्रायसंयुतम्

Transliteration

anaṃtayaṣṭikāyuktaṃ karṇikārasamaprabham | anaṃtayojanāyāmamanaṃtocchrāyasaṃyutam

Translation

Estaba provisto de pilares sin fin y resplandecía con el fulgor de la flor karṇikāra. Su longitud se extendía por infinitos yojanas, y su altura también era inconmensurable—sin límite en su elevación.

Word by Word

• अनन्त-यष्टिका-युक्तम्: endowed with an endless staff/rod
• अनन्त-यष्टिका-युक्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + यष्टिका (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्त (कृदन्त; √युज् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा (2/1), एकवचन; कृदन्त-भूतकृदन्त (क्त), विशेषणरूपेण

• कर्णिकार-सम-प्रभम्: having radiance like the karṇikāra tree/flower
• कर्णिकार-सम-प्रभम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्णिकार (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा (2/1), एकवचन; समासान्त-विशेषण

• अनन्त-योजन-आयामम्: of infinite-yojana length
• अनन्त-योजन-आयामम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + योजन (प्रातिपदिक) + आयाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा (2/1), एकवचन; ‘आयाम’ = length/extent

• अनन्त-उच्छ्राय-सम्युतम्: endowed with infinite height
• अनन्त-उच्छ्राय-सम्युतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + उच्छ्राय (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्युत (कृदन्त; √युज् धातु, सम्-उपसर्ग)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा (2/1), एकवचन; कृदन्त-भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Liṅgodbhava

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: cosmic-scale manifestation (lotus-world) described as immeasurable in space

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse points to Shiva as the boundless Pati (Lord) whose reality cannot be measured by space, number, or intellect—inviting devotion and contemplative humility before the Infinite.

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

By describing an immeasurable, radiant form, it supports Linga-upāsanā as a sacred symbol of Shiva’s limitless presence—Saguna for worship, yet indicating the Nirguna truth beyond all limits.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna on Shiva’s boundless radiance while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), using the Linga as the steady focus for the mind.