Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 23

मन्वन्तर-कल्प-प्रश्नोत्तरम् / Discourse on Manvantaras, Kalpas, and Re-creation

Devanagari script

ततो भूमेस्समुद्धारं कर्तुकामः प्रजापतिः । जलक्रीडोचितं दिव्यं वाराहं रूपमस्मरत्

Transliteration

tato bhūmessamuddhāraṃ kartukāmaḥ prajāpatiḥ | jalakrīḍocitaṃ divyaṃ vārāhaṃ rūpamasmarat

Translation

അപ്പോൾ പ്രജാപതി ഭൂമിയെ ഉയർത്തി രക്ഷിക്കുവാൻ ആഗ്രഹിച്ചു, ജലക്രീഡയ്ക്ക് യോജ്യമായ ദിവ്യ വരാഹരൂപം മനസ്സിൽ സ്മരിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/अनन्तरार्थक (then/thereafter)

• भूमेः: of the earth
• भूमेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• समुद्धारम्: the lifting up; rescue
• समुद्धारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्-उद्धार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• कर्तुकामः: desiring to do
• कर्तुकामः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तुमुन्-अन्त (कर्तुम्) + कामः; ‘कर्तुम् कामः’ इति तत्पुरुषः; प्रजापतिः इति विशेषणम्

• प्रजापतिः: Prajāpati; lord of creatures
• प्रजापतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्रजानां पतिः)

• जलक्रीडोचितम्: suitable for sport in water
• जलक्रीडोचितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जल + क्रीडा + उचित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (जल-क्रीडायाम् उचितम्)

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; रूपम् इति विशेषणम्

• वाराहम्: boar-like; of a boar
• वाराहम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाराह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; रूपम् इति विशेषणम्

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• अस्मरत्: he remembered; he thought of
• अस्मरत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana account to the sages, within the Vayu Samhita flow)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: post-submergence recovery phase; transition from dissolution-like condition toward re-stabilization

Characters & Entities

• Prajapati
• Bhumi (Earth)
• Varaha

FAQs

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

It highlights that when the world sinks into disorder, divine will manifests as a compassionate, purposeful form to restore balance—pointing to the Shaiva idea that the Supreme (Pati) upholds dharma through grace and right action.

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

Remembering Varāha shows Saguna worship—contemplating a concrete divine form for protection and restoration—while the Linga in Shaiva Siddhanta signifies the same Supreme Reality beyond form (Nirguna) that can also be approached through such manifested forms.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is smaraṇa (devotional recollection): silently repeat the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while visualizing the Lord’s protective power, cultivating trust that the Supreme restores inner and outer order.