Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 14

पशु-पाश-पतिविचारः / Inquiry into Paśu, Pāśa, and Pati

Devanagari script

एक एव तदा रुद्रो न द्वितीयो ऽस्ति कश्चन । संसृज्य विश्वभुवनं गोप्ता ते संचुकोच यः

Transliteration

eka eva tadā rudro na dvitīyo 'sti kaścana | saṃsṛjya viśvabhuvanaṃ goptā te saṃcukoca yaḥ

Translation

Naquele tempo existia apenas Rudra—não havia absolutamente um segundo. Tendo emanado o universo inteiro e todos os mundos, tornou-se seu protetor; e é Ele também quem os recolhe de volta (na dissolução).

Word by Word

• एकः: one
• एकः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• एव: alone; indeed
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphasis)

• तदा: then
• तदा: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• रुद्रः: Rudra
• रुद्रः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• द्वितीयः: a second
• द्वितीयः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वितीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अस्ति: exists
• अस्ति: क्रिया (Verb/Existence)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कश्चन: anyone (at all)
• कश्चन: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अनिश्चित-सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• संसृज्य: having created
• संसृज्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + सृज् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकाल (prior action)

• विश्वभुवनम्: the whole universe
• विश्वभुवनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भुवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (the universe-world)

• गोप्ता: protector
• गोप्ता: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गुप् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-तृच्/तृन्-प्रत्ययान्त (agent noun), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ते: of you/thy
• ते: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive) एकवचन (enclitic)

• संचुकोच: contracted; withdrew
• संचुकोच: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + कुच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (relative pronoun), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: sarga-sthiti-pralaya cycle; pralaya/saṃkoca (contraction)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes Rudra (Pati) as the non-dual supreme principle who performs sṛṣṭi (emanation), sthiti (protection), and saṃhāra (withdrawal), teaching that liberation comes by turning from the transient cosmos to the eternal Lord.

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

Though Rudra is ultimately one without a second, devotees approach Him through Saguna forms—especially the Śiva-liṅga—where the same supreme Reality is worshipped as the source, sustainer, and dissolver of the worlds.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as the inner Lord of the three functions (creation–protection–dissolution) while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” ideally with vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and/or rudrākṣa as aids to steadiness and devotion.