Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 72

प्रणवविभागः—वेदस्वरूपत्वं लिङ्गे च प्रतिष्ठा

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

Devanagari script

ततश्च्छिन्ना प्रजासृष्टिर्जगत्कारणभूतयोः । अज्ञानमानप्रभवाद्वैमत्याद्युवयोरपि

Transliteration

tataścchinnā prajāsṛṣṭirjagatkāraṇabhūtayoḥ | ajñānamānaprabhavādvaimatyādyuvayorapi

Translation

Par la suite, la création des êtres fut troublée pour vous deux—vous qui êtes les principes causaux du monde—car, née de l’ignorance et de l’orgueil, la discorde mutuelle et d’autres fautes surgirent aussi en vous.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then/thereupon
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय/तद्धित)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• chinnā: was cut off/was interrupted
• chinnā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: chid (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृदन्त), feminine nominative singular; from √chid (छिद्)

• prajā-sṛṣṭiḥ: creation of beings
• prajā-sṛṣṭiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā (प्रातिपदिक) + sṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• jagat-kāraṇa-bhūtayoḥ: of the two who were the cause of the world
• jagat-kāraṇa-bhūtayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक) + kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa chain compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन)

• ajñāna-māna-prabhavāt: from the arising of ignorance and pride
• ajñāna-māna-prabhavāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ajñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + māna (प्रातिपदिक) + prabhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• vaimatya-ādi: discord and the like
• vaimatya-ādi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaimatya (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन) (collective: 'discord etc.')

• yuvayoḥ: of you two
• yuvayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (समुच्चय/अपि)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a site legend; it states a cosmological consequence: when Brahmā and Viṣṇu fall into discord, prajā-sṛṣṭi (progeny-creation) is ‘cut off’—order is restored only when Śiva reorients them.

Significance: Doctrinal benefit: understanding māyā/avidyā and māna as causes of cosmic disorder encourages inner purification; pilgrims seek restoration of dharma and harmony through Śiva worship.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: cosmic-order disruption (temporary pralaya-like disorder in sṛṣṭi-function due to deva-vaimatya)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches that even exalted cosmic functions become obstructed when ajñāna (spiritual ignorance) and māna (ego) arise; in Shaiva Siddhanta, liberation requires Shiva’s grace to dissolve these impurities so harmony and right order are restored.

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

The verse implies that causal powers like Brahma and Vishnu can fall into discord, so devotees take refuge in Shiva as the Pati beyond rivalry; Linga-worship centers the mind on the one supreme Lord who reconciles duality and re-establishes cosmic balance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with humility, along with Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and Rudrāksha as reminders to subdue ego and dispel ignorance, is a practical takeaway aligned with Shiva Purana devotion.