Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 49

प्रणवविभागः—वेदस्वरूपत्वं लिङ्गे च प्रतिष्ठा

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

Devanagari script

संहारस्य तथा रुद्रस्तयोर्नित्यं नियामकः । तस्मात्त्रयस्ते कथ्यंते जगतः कारणानि च

Transliteration

saṃhārasya tathā rudrastayornityaṃ niyāmakaḥ | tasmāttrayaste kathyaṃte jagataḥ kāraṇāni ca

Translation

Rudra sesungguhnya ialah pelaksana peleburan, dan Dia juga sentiasa menjadi pengawal bagi kedua-dua kuasa itu (penciptaan dan pemeliharaan). Maka, ketiga-tiga mereka disebut sebagai sebab-sebab alam semesta.

Word by Word

• saṃhārasya: of dissolution
• saṃhārasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb/particle (निपात) meaning 'likewise/and'

• rudraḥ: Rudra
• rudraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• tayoḥ: of those two
• tayoḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन)

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative used adverbially (द्वितीया-अव्ययभाव): 'always'

• niyāmakaḥ: regulator/controller
• niyāmakaḥ: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niyāmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate noun

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative singular of pronoun used as indeclinable connective (तस्मात्): 'therefore/from that'

• trayaḥ: three
• trayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: traya (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; numeral substantive 'three'

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• kathyante: are called
• kathyante: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kath (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्/present), Passive (कर्मणि प्रयोग), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural; 'are said/called'

• jagataḥ: of the world
• jagataḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• kāraṇāni: causes
• kāraṇāni: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; predicate noun with kathyaṇte

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चयबोधक निपात)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a single shrine; it articulates the trimūrti-functions with Rudra as saṃhāra-kartṛ and as niyantṛ (regulator) over creation and maintenance.

Significance: Meditation on Rudra as niyāmaka dissolves fear of change/death and supports vairāgya leading toward Śiva’s anugraha.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: pralaya (implied by saṃhāra function)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra

FAQs

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

It teaches that while creation, preservation, and dissolution appear as three cosmic functions, Rudra (Śiva) stands as the ever-present inner governor; realizing Him as Pati (the Lord) loosens pāśa (bondage) and supports liberation.

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

Linga worship honors the one Lord who transcends and yet regulates all functions; Saguna Rudra is approached as the accessible controller behind Brahmā’s creation, Viṣṇu’s sustenance, and Rudra’s dissolution—leading the devotee toward the Nirguna truth.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Rudra as the niyāmaka (inner ruler) while repeating the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and reinforce the insight with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of detachment from the changing cosmos.