Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 54

सर्‍वेश्वर-परमकारण-निरूपणम् / The Supreme Lord as the Uncaused Cause

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त्वा सूर्यसंकाशं चक्रं दृष्ट्वा मनोमयम् । प्रणिपत्य महादेवं विससर्ज पितामहः

Transliteration

ityuktvā sūryasaṃkāśaṃ cakraṃ dṛṣṭvā manomayam | praṇipatya mahādevaṃ visasarja pitāmahaḥ

Translation

Ayant ainsi parlé, Pitāmaha (Brahmā) vit un disque né de l’esprit, éclatant comme le soleil; puis, se prosternant devant Mahādeva, il le lança au loin.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; quotative particle

• uktvā: having said
• uktvā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; त्वा-प्रत्यय (क्त्वान्त, gerund/absolutive)

• sūrya-saṃkāśam: sun-bright
• sūrya-saṃkāśam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃkāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; सूर्यवत् संकाशः = sun-like (upamā/tatpuruṣa)

• cakram: wheel, disc
• cakram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; त्वा-प्रत्यय (क्त्वान्त, gerund/absolutive)

• manomayam: mind-made
• manomayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक) + maya (प्रत्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; agrees with cakram

• praṇipatya: having bowed down
• praṇipatya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-ni-pat (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; ल्यप्/क्त्वा-अर्थे (absolutive)

• mahādevam: Mahādeva (Śiva)
• mahādevam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; महांश्च स देवः = the great god

• visasarja: released, let go
• visasarja: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-sṛj (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• pitāmahaḥ: the Grandfather (Brahmā)
• pitāmahaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitāmaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It highlights that even Brahmā’s power operates rightly only after surrender to Mahādeva, affirming Śiva as Pati (the supreme Lord) and the source through whom divine acts become efficacious.

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

The verse models saguna-upāsanā: Brahmā first performs reverence (praṇipāta) to Mahādeva before action, teaching devotees to begin all undertakings with devotion to Śiva—often expressed through Linga worship and Śiva-namaskāra.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is praṇipāta and śaraṇāgati (prostration and surrender) before japa or worship—e.g., bowing to Śiva, then doing Panchākṣarī mantra japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a focused, mind-born (manomaya) visualization.