Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 90

लिङ्गप्रतिष्ठा-माहात्म्यम् / The Greatness of Liṅga Installation

Devanagari script

श्रांतोत्यंतमदृष्ट्वांतं पापताधः पितामहः । ५

Transliteration

śrāṃtotyaṃtamadṛṣṭvāṃtaṃ pāpatādhaḥ pitāmahaḥ | 5

Translation

Accablé de fatigue, le Grand-Père Brahmā—ne trouvant pas la fin de cette réalité et voyant la chute vers le péché—fut profondément troublé.

Word by Word

• श्रान्तः: weary
• श्रान्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रान्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; श्रम् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकालिक कृदन्त (past participle)

• अत्यन्तम्: exceedingly
• अत्यन्तम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्यन्तम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, परिमाण/तीव्रतावाचक क्रियाविशेषण (intensifier adverb)

• अदृष्ट्वा: without seeing, not having seen
• अदृष्ट्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund) with negation अ-; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• अन्तम्: the end, limit
• अन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• पापता-अधः: below (in) sinfulness; in a very sinful state
• पापता-अधः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पापता (प्रातिपदिक) + अधः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अधः (indeclinable) प्रधान; अर्थः ‘पापतायाः अधः’ = below/under sinfulness

• पितामहः: the Grandfather (Brahmā)
• पितामहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

It highlights the limitation of the created intellect (even Brahmā) before the beginningless-endless Supreme (Pati), and warns that turning downward into pāpa strengthens pāśa (bondage) rather than leading to liberation.

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

The ‘end not seen’ theme aligns with Shiva’s transcendent nature—symbolized by the Linga as the sign of the limitless—inviting devotees to approach Saguna Shiva with devotion while recognizing His Nirguna infinitude.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to reverse the ‘downward’ pull of pāpa through daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady dhyāna on Shiva as the endless Lord, supported by Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and Rudrākṣa where prescribed.