Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 14

रुद्राविर्भावकारणम् — Causes and Pattern of Rudra’s Manifestation

Pratikalpa

Devanagari script

कदाचित्प्रार्थितः स्रष्टुं ब्रह्मणा नीललोहितः । स्वात्मना सदृशान् सर्वान् ससर्ज मनसा विभुः

Transliteration

kadācitprārthitaḥ sraṣṭuṃ brahmaṇā nīlalohitaḥ | svātmanā sadṛśān sarvān sasarja manasā vibhuḥ

Translation

Un jour, lorsque Brahmā le pria d’entreprendre la création, Nīlalohita—le Seigneur qui pénètre tout—fit naître, par la seule volonté de son esprit, tous les êtres semblables à sa propre nature.

Word by Word

• kadācit: once/sometime
• kadācit: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadācit (अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla-avyaya (adverb of time)

• prārthitaḥ: requested
• prārthitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√arth (अर्थ् धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Kta (past passive participle), Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā vibhakti (Nom./1st), Ekavacana (Singular); karmaṇi-bhāva: ‘having been requested’

• sraṣṭum: to create
• sraṣṭum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sṛj (सृज् धातु)
• Form: Tumun-anta (infinitive), ‘to create’

• brahmaṇā: by Brahmā
• brahmaṇā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental/3rd), Ekavacana (Singular)

• nīla-lohitaḥ: Nīlalohita (blue-red one)
• nīla-lohitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nīla + lohita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana (Singular); dvandva: nīlaś ca lohitaś ca (blue and red); proper epithet/name

• sva-ātmanā: by his own self
• sva-ātmanā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental/3rd), Ekavacana (Singular); samāsa: svasya ātmanā (by his own self)

• sadṛśān: similar (to himself)
• sadṛśān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sadṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/2nd), Bahuvacana (Plural); viśeṣaṇa of sarvān

• sarvān: all (of them)
• sarvān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/2nd), Bahuvacana (Plural)

• sasarja: created
• sasarja: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sa-√sṛj (सृज् धातु)
• Form: Liṭ lakāra (Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana (Singular), Parasmaipada

• manasā: by (his) mind
• manasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (Neuter), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental/3rd), Ekavacana (Singular)

• vibhuḥ: the mighty one/Lord
• vibhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana (Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: cosmogonic emanation at Brahmā’s request

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Rudra (Nīlalohita)

FAQs

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

It highlights Shiva (as Nīlalohita) as Pati—the sovereign Lord whose creative act arises from pure will, showing that divine consciousness is the source of manifested beings, while the bound souls (paśu) depend upon Him.

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

Nīlalohita is a Saguna expression of Shiva’s lordship in creation; Linga worship similarly honors Shiva as the manifest-support of the universe while pointing beyond form to His transcendent reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the inner ruler (antar-yāmin) and contemplate creation arising from His will; japa of the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” aligns the mind with that divine icchā-śakti.