Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 1

रुद्राविर्भावकारणम् — Causes and Pattern of Rudra’s Manifestation

Pratikalpa

Devanagari script

वायुरुवाच । प्रतिकल्पं प्रवक्ष्यामि रुद्राविर्भावकारणम् । यतो विच्छिन्नसंताना ब्रह्मसृष्टिः प्रवर्तते

Transliteration

vāyuruvāca | pratikalpaṃ pravakṣyāmi rudrāvirbhāvakāraṇam | yato vicchinnasaṃtānā brahmasṛṣṭiḥ pravartate

Translation

Vāyu dit : «À chaque cycle récurrent de la création, j’exposerai la cause de la manifestation de Rudra ; par elle, l’œuvre créatrice de Brahmā se poursuit, même lorsque la lignée des êtres est brisée et discontinue.»

Word by Word

• वायुः: Vāyu
• वायुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदी, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• प्रतिकल्पम्: in each aeon (kalpa)
• प्रतिकल्पम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + कल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन रूपेण अव्ययवत्; अर्थः—‘प्रत्येकं कल्पे’ (in each kalpa)

• प्रवक्ष्यामि: I shall explain
• प्रवक्ष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपदी, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• रुद्राविर्भावकारणम्: the cause of Rudra’s manifestation
• रुद्राविर्भावकारणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आविर्भाव (प्रातिपदिक) + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (रुद्रस्य आविर्भावस्य कारणम्)

• यतः: from which/whereby
• यतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/सम्बन्धबोधक (from which/wherefrom; because)

• विच्छिन्नसंताना: with interrupted continuity
• विच्छिन्नसंताना: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + छिद् (धातु) + सन्तान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; ‘विच्छिन्न’ (क्त) + ‘सन्ताना’ (having continuity/lineage) कर्मधारय (विच्छिन्ना सन्ताना यस्याः)

• ब्रह्मसृष्टिः: Brahmā’s creation
• ब्रह्मसृष्टिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणः सृष्टिः)

• प्रवर्तते: proceeds/continues
• प्रवर्तते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपदी, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Vayu

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: kalpa-cycle recurrence; re-initiation of creation after discontinuity (vicchinna-santāna)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It frames Rudra’s manifestation as a recurring, purposeful divine intervention across kalpas, ensuring that creation continues under the Lord’s governance—highlighting Pati (the Lord) as the ultimate support behind cosmic order.

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

Rudra’s “appearance” points to Saguna Shiva’s compassionate, manifest role in sustaining cosmic functions; Linga-worship honors that ever-present Lord who becomes accessible in form while remaining the transcendent ground of creation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with contemplation on Rudra as the inner governor of all cycles—supporting continuity, purification, and liberation.