Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 35

त्रिमूर्तिसाम्यं तथा महेश्वरस्य परमार्थकारणत्वम् | Equality of the Trimūrti and Maheśvara as the Supreme Cause

Devanagari script

भूतादिर्महता तद्वदव्यक्तेनावृतो महान् । एतैरावरणैरण्डं सप्तभिर्बहिरावृतम्

Transliteration

bhūtādirmahatā tadvadavyaktenāvṛto mahān | etairāvaraṇairaṇḍaṃ saptabhirbahirāvṛtam

Translation

Unsur-unsur kasar diliputi oleh Mahat (kecerdasan kosmik), dan Mahat pula diliputi oleh Avyakta (Yang Tidak Termanifest). Maka demikianlah telur kosmik (brahmāṇḍa) dilingkungi dari luar oleh tujuh lapisan penutup ini.

Word by Word

• भूतादिः: the beginning of beings/elements
• भूतादिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भूतानाम् आदि: 'beginning of beings/elements')

• महता: by/with the Mahat (cosmic intellect)
• महता: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण/साधन-भावे

• तद्वत्: likewise, in the same way
• तद्वत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्वत् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-निपात)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner)

• अव्यक्तेन: by the Unmanifest (Prakṛti)
• अव्यक्तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अव्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण/साधन-भावे

• आवृतः: covered, enveloped
• आवृतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + √वृ (वृञ् आवरणे) (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे 'covered'

• महान्: the Great (Mahat principle)
• महान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेष्य (भूतादिः)

• एतैः: by these
• एतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम; 'by these'

• आवरणैः: coverings, enclosures
• आवरणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आवरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; करण-भावे

• अण्डम्: the cosmic egg
• अण्डम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म

• सप्तभिः: by seven
• सप्तभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक

• बहिः: outside, externally
• बहिः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहिः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of place)

• आवृतम्: covered, enveloped
• आवृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + √वृ (वृञ् आवरणे) (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अण्डम् इति विशेष्येण सह

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: completion of seven coverings: bhūtādi→mahat→avyakta; aṇḍa encompassed by sapta-āvaraṇa

Characters & Entities

• Mahat
• Avyakta
• Brahmanda

FAQs

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

It teaches that the universe is layered with successive coverings (from gross elements up to the unmanifest), implying that liberation requires moving inward beyond these veils to realize Pati (Shiva), who transcends Prakriti and its evolutes.

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

The Linga is revered as the visible support for meditating on the transcendent Shiva; contemplating the seven coverings while worshiping the Linga refines devotion from outer forms (gross elements) toward the inner, unmanifest source, culminating in awareness of Shiva beyond all coverings.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is tattva-dhyana during japa: while repeating the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), contemplate withdrawing attention from the gross elements through Mahat and Avyakta, offering each layer into Shiva as the final refuge.