Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 9

शिवज्ञान-प्रश्नः तथा सृष्टौ शिवस्य स्वयमाविर्भावः

Inquiry into Śiva-knowledge and Śiva’s self-manifestation in creation

Devanagari script

जनयामास च तदा ऋषिर्विश्वाधिकः प्रभुः । देवानां प्रथमं देवं ब्रह्माणं ब्रह्मणस्पतिम्

Transliteration

janayāmāsa ca tadā ṛṣirviśvādhikaḥ prabhuḥ | devānāṃ prathamaṃ devaṃ brahmāṇaṃ brahmaṇaspatim

Translation

Então o Senhor supremo—que transcende todo o universo—gerou Brahmā, o primeiro entre os deuses, a divindade que preside ao saber sagrado (Brahmaṇaspati).

Word by Word

• जनयामास: brought forth; generated
• जनयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जनय् (धातु; √जन् causative)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/परफेक्ट), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘जनयामास’ = ‘उत्पादयामास’

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

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• ऋषिः: the sage
• ऋषिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विश्व-अधिकः: surpassing all; supreme
• विश्व-अधिकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (विश्वात् अधिकः = ‘surpassing the world/all’)

• प्रभुः: the Lord
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ऋषेः विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• प्रथमम्: the first
• प्रथमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रमवाचक-विशेषण

• देवम्: god
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ब्रह्माणम्: Brahmā
• ब्रह्माणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेष्य (देवम्)

• ब्रह्मणः-पतिम्: lord of Brahman / Brahmaṇaspati
• ब्रह्मणः-पतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मणस् (प्रातिपदिक; ब्रह्मन्-षष्ठी) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणः पति:)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Emanation of Brahmā at the start of the creation sequence.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It establishes Shiva (the transcendent Pati) as the ultimate source even of Brahmā, showing that all creative power and sacred knowledge arise by Shiva’s will, not independently.

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

By presenting Shiva as the supreme Lord who manifests the creator, the verse supports Saguna worship (such as Linga worship) as devotion to the very source from whom all cosmic functions—including creation—proceed.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Shiva as viśvādhika (beyond the universe) while repeating the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” recognizing Brahmā and all gods as empowered by Shiva; offer Tripuṇḍra-bhasma as a reminder of Shiva’s supremacy over worldly creation.