Shloka 11

ब्रह्माण्डदान-प्रशंसा तथा ब्रह्माण्ड-प्रमाण-वर्णनम्

Praise of the Gift of the Cosmic Egg and Description of the Brahmāṇḍa’s Measure

Devanagari script

तस्याधारः स्थितो नागस्स च विष्णुः प्रकीर्तितः । ब्रह्मणो वचसो हेतोर्बिभर्ति सकलं त्विदम्

Transliteration

tasyādhāraḥ sthito nāgassa ca viṣṇuḥ prakīrtitaḥ | brahmaṇo vacaso hetorbibharti sakalaṃ tvidam

Translation

तस्याधारो महानागः, स च विष्णुरिति कीर्तितः। ब्रह्मवचनप्रभावेन बिभर्ति सकलं जगत्॥

Word by Word

• तस्य: of that / its
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आधारः: support, foundation
• आधारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आधार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्थितः: situated, present
• स्थितः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) → स्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नागः: the serpent (Nāga/Śeṣa)
• नागः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रकीर्तितः: is proclaimed/called
• प्रकीर्तितः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/Predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कीर्त् (धातु) → प्रकीर्तित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपसर्गः—प्र

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वचसः: of the word/speech
• वचसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हेतोः: because of, due to
• हेतोः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (also can function as पञ्चमी in sense; here genitive: 'because of/for the reason of')

• बिभर्ति: supports, bears
• बिभर्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सकलम्: entire, whole
• सकलम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (इदम् इति विशेष्येण सह)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle: emphasis/contrast)

• इदम्: this (all)
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदं (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Highlights cosmic ‘support’ (ādhāra) as delegated function: even Viṣṇu-Śeṣa upholds the cosmos by higher ordinance—reinforcing devotion to the supreme Pati beyond secondary sustainers.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahma
• Shesha (Naga)

FAQs

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

It teaches that cosmic stability depends on divinely ordained order: even the mighty support (Śeṣa/Viṣṇu) upholds the world through Brahmā’s sanctioned command—ultimately functioning within the higher sovereignty of Pati (Śiva) in Shaiva understanding.

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

By showing that preservation and support are delegated cosmic roles, the verse directs devotion beyond limited functions to the Supreme Lord symbolized by the Liṅga—Saguna Śiva as the accessible focus through whom all cosmic offices operate.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate the universe as upheld by divine ordinance and steady your speech with japa—especially the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—so one’s words align with dharma and the Lord’s sustaining power.