Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 17

कौशिकी-गौरी तथा शार्दूलरूप-निशाचरस्य पूर्वकर्मवर्णनम् | Kauśikī-Gaurī and Brahmā’s account of the tiger-formed niśācara

Devanagari script

अतीताः खल्वसंख्याता ब्रह्माणो हरयो भवाः । अनागतास्त्वसंख्यातास्त्वदाज्ञानुविधायिनः

Transliteration

atītāḥ khalvasaṃkhyātā brahmāṇo harayo bhavāḥ | anāgatāstvasaṃkhyātāstvadājñānuvidhāyinaḥ

Translation

Innombrables, en vérité, sont les Brahmā, les Hari (Viṣṇu) et les Rudra déjà passés. Innombrables aussi ceux qui viendront—chacun agissant selon Ton ordre.

Word by Word

• अतीताः: past/elapsed
• अतीताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतीत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √इ)
• Form: भूतकृत् (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति; विशेषण

• खलु: indeed
• खलु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: खलु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), निश्चयार्थ/प्रत्ययार्थ

• असंख्याताः: countless
• असंख्याताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असंख्यात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति; विशेषण

• ब्रह्माणः: Brahmās (creators)
• ब्रह्माणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom. pl.)

• हरयः: Harīs/Viṣṇus
• हरयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom. pl.)

• भवाः: Bhavas (Śivas)
• भवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom. pl.); संबोधनार्थे अपि प्रयोगः सम्भवति, अत्र प्रथमा

• अनागताः: future (yet to come)
• अनागताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनागत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √गम्)
• Form: भूतकृत् (past participle used adjectivally), पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति; विशेषण

• तु: but/and indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक (but/indeed)

• असंख्याताः: countless
• असंख्याताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असंख्यात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति; विशेषण

• त्वत्: of you/than you
• त्वत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, एकवचन, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative) in compound; ‘from/than you’ base form त्वत्

• आज्ञा: command
• आज्ञा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रातिपदिक-रूप (in compound)

• अनुविधायिनः: those who follow/comply with
• अनुविधायिनः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु + विधा (धातु) → अनुविधायिन् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: ताच्छीलिक/कर्तरि-प्रत्यय ‘-इन्’ (agentive), पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति; विशेषण

Speaker

A divine narrator addressing Lord Shiva as the Supreme Pati (in the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā philosophical discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahākāla

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: kalpa-cycles; succession of innumerable Brahmās/Viṣṇus/Rudras across past and future

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Rudra

FAQs

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

It establishes Shiva as Pati—the supreme Lord whose will governs all cosmic offices—showing that even the highest deities arise in endless cycles and operate under His ordinance.

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

By declaring all cosmic rulers subordinate to Shiva’s command, it supports Linga-worship as devotion to the supreme source beyond changing forms—Saguna Shiva as Lord of the universe and Nirguna Shiva as the transcendent ground.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice surrender (śaraṇāgati) through japa of the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” contemplating that all actions and worlds proceed by Shiva’s ājñā, and offering daily worship with Tripuṇḍra-bhasma as a reminder of His lordship over time and dissolution.