Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 42

विष्णु-ब्रह्म-विवाद-वर्णनम्

Description of the Viṣṇu–Brahmā Dispute and Brahmā’s Confusion

Devanagari script

आकाशादीनि भूतानि भौतिकानि च लीलया । इति बुद्ध्वा प्रजानाथ शरणं व्रज मे विधे

Transliteration

ākāśādīni bhūtāni bhautikāni ca līlayā | iti buddhvā prajānātha śaraṇaṃ vraja me vidhe

Translation

จงรู้ว่า ธาตุทั้งหลายเริ่มแต่ อากาศะ และสรรพสิ่งอันเป็นวัตถุ ล้วนบังเกิดขึ้นเพียงด้วยลีลาแห่งพระประสงค์ เมื่อเข้าใจดังนี้แล้ว โอเจ้าแห่งประชา โอผู้กำหนดกฎเกณฑ์ จงมาถึงที่พึ่งในเราเถิด.

Word by Word

• आकाशादीनि: (things) beginning with ether
• आकाशादीनि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा; तत्पुरुष (आकाशः आदिः येषाम् = beginning with ether)

• भूतानि: elements/beings
• भूतानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative)

• भौतिकानि: material/gross
• भौतिकानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भौतिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा; विशेषण

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

• लीलया: playfully/as sport
• लीलया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, तृतीया (Instrumental); प्रकार/उपायार्थ

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative)

• बुद्ध्वा: having understood
• बुद्ध्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बुध् (धातु) → बुद्ध्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), ‘having understood’

• प्रजानाथ: O lord of creatures
• प्रजानाथ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा + नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सम्बोधन (Vocative); तत्पुरुष (प्रजानां नाथः)

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (Accusative)

• व्रज: go/seek
• व्रज: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मे: my/of me
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; एकवचन, षष्ठी (Genitive) — enclitic

• विधे: O Vidhī (Brahmā)
• विधे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सम्बोधन (Vocative); ‘विधि’ = ब्रह्मा

Speaker

Lord Shiva (addressing Brahma/Prajapati in the creation context of the Sṛṣṭi Khaṇḍa)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: didactic turn from cosmology to refuge: recognition of līlā-based manifestation leading to surrender

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that the entire material order—from the subtle element of ether onward—functions under Shiva’s sovereign will as līlā, so liberation begins with recognizing the world’s dependence on Pati (Shiva) and taking refuge in Him.

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

By urging “take refuge in Me,” the verse supports Saguna-upāsanā as a direct means of surrender: the Liṅga becomes the accessible focus through which the devotee turns from the shifting bhūtas to the unchanging Lord who empowers them.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice śaraṇāgati with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), ideally with bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa, contemplating that all elements arise and dissolve by Shiva’s līlā while the seeker abides in His refuge.