Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

यस्य ब्रह्मा च विष्णुश्च प्रणामं कुरुतो भयात् । लोकसंकोचकस्यास्य यस्य तौ वशवर्तिनौ

Transliteration

yasya brahmā ca viṣṇuśca praṇāmaṃ kuruto bhayāt | lokasaṃkocakasyāsya yasya tau vaśavartinau

Translation

ด้วยความเกรงกลัว พรหมาและวิษณุจึงนอบน้อมแด่พระองค์ พระองค์ทรงสามารถหดรวบโลกทั้งหลายได้ และแม้เทพทั้งสองนั้นก็อยู่ใต้พระอำนาจของพระองค์

Word by Word

• यस्य: of whom
• यस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक-यत्

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: कर्ता (Kartā/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: कर्ता (Kartā/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• प्रणामम्: bow/salutation
• प्रणामम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कुरुतः: (they two) do/make
• कुरुतः: क्रिया (Kriyā/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपद

• भयात्: from fear
• भयात्: हेतु/अपादान (Hetu/Apādāna/हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th case), एकवचन

• लोकसंकोचकस्य: of the world-contractor
• लोकसंकोचकस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक + संकोचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: लोकस्य संकोचकः (one who contracts the worlds)

• अस्य: of this (one)
• अस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• यस्य: of whom
• यस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• तौ: those two
• तौ: कर्ता (Kartā/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; सर्वनाम

• वशवर्तिनौ: subservient/under control
• वशवर्तिनौ: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वश + वर्तिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; तत्पुरुषः: वशे वर्तेते इति (being under control)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: loka-saṃkoca (cosmic contraction)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It declares Shiva as Pati—the Supreme Lord who governs even Brahma and Vishnu—teaching that liberation arises from surrender to the highest reality beyond all delegated cosmic powers.

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

By affirming Shiva’s lordship over creation and withdrawal, it supports Linga-worship as devotion to the supreme source in a tangible form (Saguna) that points to the transcendent (Nirguna) Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate humility and surrender through daily Shiva-puja: offer water to the Linga and repeat the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” meditating on Shiva as the inner ruler of all worlds.