Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 18

रुद्र-विष्णोः ऐकत्व-उपदेशः तथा धर्म-आज्ञा

Instruction on Rudra–Viṣṇu Unity and Divine Injunctions

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मणो वर्षमात्रेण दिनं वैष्णवमुच्यते । सोऽपि वर्षशतं यावदात्ममानेन जीवति

Transliteration

brahmaṇo varṣamātreṇa dinaṃ vaiṣṇavamucyate | so'pi varṣaśataṃ yāvadātmamānena jīvati

Translation

On dit qu’une seule année de Brahmā constitue un jour de Viṣṇu. Et Viṣṇu, lui aussi, vit cent années de cette mesure, selon son propre décompte du temps.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā/Brahman (here: Brahmā)
• ब्रह्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• वर्ष-मात्रेण: by (the measure of) one year only
• वर्ष-मात्रेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ('only a year' / 'year-measure')

• दिनम्: a day
• दिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वैष्णवम्: Vaiṣṇava (pertaining to Viṣṇu)
• वैष्णवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'दिनम्' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• उच्यते: is said/is called
• उच्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (passive)

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

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

• वर्ष-शतम्: a hundred years
• वर्ष-शतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (numeral compound: 'a hundred years')

• यावत्: as long as/until
• यावत्: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय/संबन्धबोधक)
• Form: परिमाण/अवधि-बोधक-अव्यय (until/as long as)

• आत्म-मानेन: by his own measure
• आत्म-मानेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ('by one's own measure')

• जीवति: lives
• जीवति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीव् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: kalpa-time hierarchy (Brahmā–Viṣṇu lifespan reckoning)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It relativizes divine lifespans by showing that even the greatest cosmic offices—Brahmā and Viṣṇu—operate within measured time, pointing the seeker toward Śiva as Pati, the Lord who ultimately transcends such temporal limits.

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

By emphasizing that cosmic rulers have finite durations, the text supports Linga-worship as devotion to Śiva’s abiding presence—Saguna for worship and guidance, yet indicating the Nirguna reality beyond changing time.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Śiva as Mahākāla (Lord of Time) while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” using the sense of time’s vastness to cultivate detachment and steady devotion.