Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 42

मङ्गलाचरणम्, तीर्थ-परिसरः, सूतागमनम् — Invocation, Sacred Setting, and the Arrival of Sūta

Devanagari script

बृहत्सूक्ष्मप्रभेदेन मुनिभिस्तत्त्ववित्तमैः । ब्राह्मं पाद्मं वैष्णवं च शैवं भागवतं तथा

Transliteration

bṛhatsūkṣmaprabhedena munibhistattvavittamaiḥ | brāhmaṃ pādmaṃ vaiṣṇavaṃ ca śaivaṃ bhāgavataṃ tathā

Translation

Os sábios, os melhores conhecedores da verdade, distinguem os Purāṇa por suas divisões maiores e mais sutis: o Brāhma, o Pādma, o Vaiṣṇava, o Śaiva e também o Bhāgavata.

Word by Word

• bṛhat-sūkṣma-prabhedena: by the distinction of gross and subtle
• bṛhat-sūkṣma-prabhedena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bṛhat (प्रातिपदिक) + sūkṣma (प्रातिपदिक) + prabheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; समासः: bṛhat-sūkṣma (कर्मधारयः/विशेषण-विशेष्यभावः) + prabheda (तत्पुरुषः: bṛhat-sūkṣma-prabheda = ‘gross-and-subtle distinction’)

• munibhiḥ: by sages
• munibhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• tattva-vittamaiḥ: (who are) the best knowers of truth
• tattva-vittamaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of munibhiḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tattva (प्रातिपदिक) + vittama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; समासः: tattva-vittama (तत्पुरुषः: ‘best knowers of reality’)

• brāhmam: the Brāhma (Purāṇa)
• brāhmam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; (पुराणनाम)

• pādmam: the Pādma (Purāṇa)
• pādmam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pādma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; (पुराणनाम)

• vaiṣṇavam: the Vaiṣṇava (Purāṇa)
• vaiṣṇavam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiṣṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; (पुराणनाम)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चय/‘and’)

• śaivam: the Śaiva (Purāṇa)
• śaivam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; (पुराणनाम)

• bhāgavatam: the Bhāgavata (Purāṇa)
• bhāgavatam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāgavata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; (पुराणनाम)

• tathā: likewise/also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) meaning ‘likewise/also’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: No jyotirliṅga; the verse classifies Purāṇas into major ‘bṛhat’ and subtle ‘sūkṣma’ groupings and names several (Brāhma, Pādma, Vaiṣṇava, Śaiva, Bhāgavata).

Significance: Supports sectarian harmony in a taxonomic way while asserting the legitimacy of Śaiva Purāṇic revelation as a recognized category among Purāṇas.

FAQs

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

It establishes that realized sages classify sacred narratives with discernment, implying that scripture should be approached through tattva-jñāna (knowledge of reality) and proper tradition—supporting the Shaiva view that the Śaiva Purāṇa is a direct vehicle for understanding Pati (Śiva) and liberation.

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

By naming the Śaiva category alongside other major Purāṇic streams, it legitimizes Śaiva revelation as a primary source for Saguna Śiva worship—especially Linga-upāsanā—while ultimately pointing toward subtler (sūkṣma) understanding of Śiva as the supreme Pati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is śravaṇa and svādhyāya—devotional listening/recitation of the Śaiva Purāṇa with faith, supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) as the inner discipline that makes scriptural study transformative.