Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 28

शिवतत्त्ववर्णनम् (Śiva-tattva-varṇana) — “Description/Exposition of the Principle of Śiva”

Devanagari script

त्रिया भिन्नो ह्यहं विष्णो ब्रह्मविष्णुहराख्यया । सर्गरक्षालयगुणैर्निष्कलोहं सदा हरे

Transliteration

triyā bhinno hyahaṃ viṣṇo brahmaviṣṇuharākhyayā | sargarakṣālayaguṇairniṣkalohaṃ sadā hare

Translation

ഹേ ഹരേ! സൃഷ്ടി, രക്ഷ, ലയം എന്ന ഗുണങ്ങളാൽ എന്നെ ബ്രഹ്മാ, വിഷ്ണു, ഹരൻ എന്നു മൂന്നു പേരിൽ വേർതിരിച്ച് പറയുന്നു; എന്നാൽ സത്യത്തിൽ ഞാൻ സദാ നിഷ്കലൻ, അവിഭാജ്യൻ.

Word by Word

• त्रिया: by three (ways/aspects)
• त्रिया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘त्रि’ का स्त्री-तृतीया एकवचन रूप (by threefoldness/three ways)

• भिन्नः: divided/distinct
• भिन्नः: Pradhana-predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भिद् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (predicative)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (indeed/for)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विष्णो: O Viṣṇu
• विष्णो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मविष्णुहराख्यया: by the designation ‘Brahmā-Viṣṇu-Hara’
• ब्रह्मविष्णुहराख्यया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + विष्णु + हर + आख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ब्रह्मविष्णुहर-आख्या (named as Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Hara)

• सर्गरक्षालयगुणैः: by the qualities of creation, protection, and dissolution
• सर्गरक्षालयगुणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्ग + रक्षा + लय + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: सर्गश्च रक्षा च लयश्च (as functions) + गुणाः (as attributes)

• निष्कलः: partless/without divisions
• निष्कलः: Pradhana-predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निष्कल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपसर्ग-तत्पुरुष: कलारहितः (partless)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक (adverb of time: always)

• हरे: O Hari
• हरे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि/हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva (as the Supreme Pati, instructing Vishnu during the creation narrative)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: triyā bhinno hyahaṃ viṣṇo brahmaviṣṇuharākhyayā | sargarakṣālayaguṇairniṣkalohaṃ sadā hare

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Doctrinal reconciliation of triadic functions into one undivided Lord (niṣkala)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Brahma
• Hara

FAQs

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

It teaches that the three cosmic roles—creation, preservation, and dissolution—are functional distinctions, while the Supreme Reality (Shiva as Pati) remains one, indivisible, and ultimately beyond all limiting parts and names.

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

The Linga signifies the one undivided Supreme behind all forms; worship of Saguna manifestations (as Brahmā/Viṣṇu/Hara) leads the devotee toward realizing the Niṣkala (partless) truth that those forms express.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as Niṣkala while performing Saguna worship—such as japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and Linga-pūjā—contemplating that all divine functions arise from the one Supreme.