Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 41

त्रिमूर्तिसाम्यं तथा महेश्वरस्य परमार्थकारणत्वम् | Equality of the Trimūrti and Maheśvara as the Supreme Cause

Devanagari script

तदिदं ब्रह्मणो योनिरेतदंडं घनं महत् । ब्रह्मणः क्षेत्रमुद्दिष्टं ब्रह्मा क्षेत्रज्ञ उच्यते

Transliteration

tadidaṃ brahmaṇo yoniretadaṃḍaṃ ghanaṃ mahat | brahmaṇaḥ kṣetramuddiṣṭaṃ brahmā kṣetrajña ucyate

Translation

Cet Œuf cosmique, très grand et compact, est la matrice (source) de Brahmā. Il est déclaré être le champ (kṣetra) de Brahmā, tandis que Brahmā est appelé le connaisseur du champ (kṣetrajña).

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahman
• ब्रह्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• योनिः: womb/source
• योनिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अण्डम्: egg (cosmic egg)
• अण्डम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• घनम्: dense/compact
• घनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (अण्डम्)

• महत्: great
• महत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (अण्डम्)

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahman
• ब्रह्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• क्षेत्रम्: field
• क्षेत्रम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• उद्दिष्टम्: designated/indicated
• उद्दिष्टम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्-√दिश् (धातु) + क्त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (क्षेत्रम्)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• क्षेत्रज्ञः: knower of the field
• क्षेत्रज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (क्षेत्रस्य ज्ञः)

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

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: brahmāṇḍa manifestation (cosmic egg as kṣetra)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

It distinguishes the manifested realm (kṣetra)—the cosmos as an objective field—from the conscious experiencer (kṣetrajña). In Shaiva Siddhanta, this supports discernment between insentient matter (pāśa) and the knowing principle, turning the seeker toward Pati (Shiva) who transcends and governs both.

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

By framing the universe as a limited field of experience, it implies the need for a transcendent refuge. Linga worship focuses the mind on Shiva as Pati—the supreme reality beyond the brahmāṇḍa—while also present within it as the inner ruler, making Saguna devotion a doorway to realizing Shiva’s transcendence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice contemplative viveka: observe the “field” (body, mind, world) as kṣetra and rest awareness as the knower, while japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) is used to align the kṣetrajña toward Shiva, the supreme Lord beyond all fields.