Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 18

रुद्रस्य परमात्मत्वे ब्रह्मपुत्रत्वादिसंशयप्रश्नः — Questions on Rudra’s Supremacy and His ‘Sonship’ to Brahmā

Devanagari script

कल्पान्तरे पुनर्ब्रह्मा रुद्रविष्णू जगन्मयः । विष्णुश्च भगवान्रुद्रं ब्रह्माणमसृजत्पुनः

Transliteration

kalpāntare punarbrahmā rudraviṣṇū jaganmayaḥ | viṣṇuśca bhagavānrudraṃ brahmāṇamasṛjatpunaḥ

Translation

No término de um ciclo cósmico, Brahmā torna a aparecer; e Rudra e Viṣṇu—que permeiam o universo—prosseguem nas funções divinas. E o Senhor Viṣṇu, novamente, fez surgir Rudra e também manifestou Brahmā de novo.

Word by Word

• कल्पान्तरे: in another kalpa
• कल्पान्तरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्पान्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरावृत्ति-अव्यय (adverb: again)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• रुद्रविष्णू: Rudra and Viṣṇu
• रुद्रविष्णू: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), द्विवचन (Dual); द्वन्द्व-समास

• जगन्मयः: consisting of the universe
• जगन्मयः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष ('made of the world'); विशेषण (of Brahmā)

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणरूपेण (epithet of Viṣṇu)

• रुद्रम्: Rudra
• रुद्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• ब्रह्माणम्: Brahmā
• ब्रह्माणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• असृजत्: created
• असृजत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरावृत्ति-अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: kalpānta recurrence; re-assignment/re-emergence of cosmic offices (Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Rudra)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Brahma
• Rudra

FAQs

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

It emphasizes cyclical time (kalpa/pralaya) and the functional manifestation of divine powers in creation, preservation, and dissolution—while Shaiva Siddhanta holds Shiva (Pati) as the supreme ground, with Brahma and Vishnu operating as cosmic offices within that order.

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

By presenting Rudra as repeatedly manifested for cosmic dissolution and renewal, it supports Saguna Shiva worship—especially the Linga—as the accessible symbol of the transcendent Pati who empowers cosmic functions beyond any single cycle.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the timeless Pati beyond kalpas while chanting the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), cultivating detachment from cyclical change and seeking liberation rather than merely worldly continuity.