Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 15

हंस-वराह-रूपग्रहण-कारणम्

The Reason for Assuming the Swan and Boar Forms

Devanagari script

अथवा भवकल्पार्थं तद्रूपं हि प्रकल्पितम् । विष्णुना च वराहस्य भुवनावनकारिणा

Transliteration

athavā bhavakalpārthaṃ tadrūpaṃ hi prakalpitam | viṣṇunā ca varāhasya bhuvanāvanakāriṇā

Translation

अथवा भव-कल्प की स्थापना और धारण हेतु वही रूप रचा गया—भुवनों के पालनकर्ता विष्णु ने वराह-रूप धारण करके।

Word by Word

• अथवा: or else
• अथवा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or/alternatively)

• भव-कल्प-अर्थम्: for the purpose of the world-cycle (bhava-kalpa)
• भव-कल्प-अर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव (प्रातिपदिक) + कल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (भवस्य कल्पस्य अर्थः/प्रयोजनम्)

• तत्-रूपम्: that form
• तत्-रूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (तदेव रूपम्)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय (indeed/for)

• प्रकल्पितम्: was devised
• प्रकल्पितम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कल्प् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past Passive Participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘was arranged/constructed’

• विष्णुना: by Viṣṇu
• विष्णुना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (and)

• वराहस्य: of the boar
• वराहस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वराह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भुवन-अवन-कारिणा: by the protector of the worlds
• भुवन-अवन-कारिणा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुवन (प्रातिपदिक) + अवन (प्रातिपदिक) + कारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (भुवनस्य अवनं करोति इति); विशेषणम् (विष्णुना)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Kalpa-maintenance rationale (bhava-kalpa) articulated as world-preservation

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Varaha

FAQs

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

It highlights that divine manifestations arise to uphold cosmic order across a kalpa; from a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, such sustaining power operates within Śiva’s overarching sovereignty (Pati), even when expressed through Viṣṇu’s protective role.

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

By affirming purposeful divine forms (saguṇa manifestations) for world-protection, it supports the principle that devotees may approach the Supreme through concrete forms—just as Śiva is worshipped as the Liṅga and also as personal, gracious Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate the Lord as the protector of the worlds and recite the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as a daily remembrance that cosmic stability and inner steadiness are upheld by divine grace.