Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 2

प्रणवविभागः—वेदस्वरूपत्वं लिङ्गे च प्रतिष्ठा

The Division of Oṃ, Its Vedic Forms, and Its Placement in the Liṅga

Devanagari script

तदप्यविदितं तावद्ब्रह्मणा विष्णुना तथा । रजसा तमसा चित्तं तयोर्यस्मात्तिरस्कृतम्

Transliteration

tadapyaviditaṃ tāvadbrahmaṇā viṣṇunā tathā | rajasā tamasā cittaṃ tayoryasmāttiraskṛtam

Translation

Cette Réalité demeurait inconnue même de Brahmā et de Viṣṇu, car l’esprit de tous deux était voilé, obscurci par rajas et tamas.

Word by Word

• तत्: that (thing)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थ (also/even)

• अविदितम्: unknown
• अविदितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद् (धातु) + क्त → अविदित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), नञ्-पूर्वक (negated)

• तावत्: until then / as yet
• तावत्: Kala (काल/Time adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/परिमाणवाचक (for so long/as yet)

• ब्रह्मणा: by Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणा: Karana (करण/Instrument/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (ब्रह्मा), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• विष्णुना: by Viṣṇu
• विष्णुना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (in the same way/likewise)

• रजसा: by rajas (passion)
• रजसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• तमसा: by tamas (darkness)
• तमसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• चित्तम्: mind
• चित्तम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन

• तयोः: of those two
• तयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी/सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Gen./Loc.), द्विवचन (Dual)

• यस्मात्: from which
• यस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative)

• तिरस्कृतम्: was obscured/veiled
• तिरस्कृतम्: Kriya (क्रिया; passive predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तिरस् + कृ (धातु) + क्त → तिरस्कृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय (PPP)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches that even exalted cosmic deities cannot realize the Supreme Truth when consciousness is obscured by rajas and tamas; liberation requires the lifting of this veil through Shiva-knowledge (śiva-jñāna).

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

The Linga represents the transcendent Reality that surpasses the limited grasp of rajas-tamas bound intellect; Saguna Shiva worship purifies the mind and leads the devotee toward recognizing that higher, formless Truth indicated by the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate sattva by japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady meditation; this reduces rajas and tamas, making the mind fit to perceive Shiva’s supreme principle.