Shloka 31

Brahmā–Viṣṇu-Pūjā: Upacāra-Vistāra and Īśvara’s Prasāda

Offerings in Shiva Worship and the Lord’s Grace

Devanagari script

पुरस्तात्स्तंभरूपेण पश्चाद्रू पेण चार्भकौ । ब्रह्मत्वं निष्कलं प्रोक्तमीशत्वं सकलं तथा

Transliteration

purastātstaṃbharūpeṇa paścādrū peṇa cārbhakau | brahmatvaṃ niṣkalaṃ proktamīśatvaṃ sakalaṃ tathā

Translation

เบื้องหน้าเป็นรูปเสา และเบื้องหลังเป็นรูปปรากฏมีสัณฐาน—ดังนี้ทั้งสอง (พระพรหมและพระวิษณุ) ได้ประจักษ์พระองค์ ภาวะแห่งพรหมันกล่าวว่าเป็นนิษฺกละ คือไร้ส่วน และภาวะแห่งความเป็นอีศวร (อีศตวะ) ก็สอนว่าเป็นสกละ คือมีส่วนและปรากฏเป็นรูป.

Word by Word

• पुरस्तात्: in front / beforehand
• पुरस्तात्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरस्तात् (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place: in front/before)

• स्तम्भरूपेण: in the form of a pillar
• स्तम्भरूपेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तम्भ + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन; करण/प्रकार (instrumental of manner); समासः तत्पुरुष (pillar-form)

• पश्चात्: after/behind
• पश्चात्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/कालवाचक-अव्यय (after/behind)

• रूपेण: in the form
• रूपेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन; करण/प्रकार (instrumental of manner)

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

• अर्भकौ: the two boys/children
• अर्भकौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्भक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), द्विवचन

• ब्रह्मत्वम्: Brahma-hood / the state of Brahmā
• ब्रह्मत्वम्: Pratijna/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मत्व (प्रातिपदिक; -त्व abstract)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; here predicate-noun (nominative sense)

• निष्कलम्: partless / without parts
• निष्कलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निष्कल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ब्रह्मत्वम्)

• प्रोक्तम्: is declared/said
• प्रोक्तम्: Kriyā (क्रिया/भाव)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle) नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; passive predicate (it is said)

• ईशत्वम्: lordship / the state of Īśa
• ईशत्वम्: Pratijna/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईशत्व (प्रातिपदिक; -त्व abstract)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; predicate-noun

• सकलम्: with parts / complete
• सकलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ईशत्वम्)

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (thus/so)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Liṅgodbhava

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: The verse evokes the Liṅgodbhava revelation: Śiva appears as an endless pillar before Brahmā and Viṣṇu, disclosing the niṣkala (transcendent) and sakala (immanent) modes of the Supreme. In the Kāśī milieu of the Viśveśvarasaṃhitā, this supports Viśveśvara as the manifest Lord who is simultaneously beyond form.

Significance: Darśana of Viśvanātha is framed as access to both niṣkala-brahman realization and sakala-īśvara devotion; it matures discernment (viveka) and loosens pāśa through right knowledge and surrender.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Liṅgodbhava-theophany: the infinite pillar as a cosmic epiphany establishing transcendence (niṣkala) and immanence (sakala).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It distinguishes Shiva as both the transcendent, partless Absolute (niṣkala Brahman) and the immanent Lord who graciously assumes form (sakala Īśvara), showing that liberation comes from knowing Him beyond limitation while worshipping Him with devotion in manifest ways.

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

The ‘pillar-form’ (stambha) points to the Liṅga as the sign of the infinite—beyond measure—while the later ‘form’ indicates Shiva’s saguna revelation for devotees; thus Liṅga-worship unites contemplation of the formless with reverence for the manifest Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on the Liṅga as endless light/being (niṣkala) while performing saguna worship—japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” with offerings and, where appropriate, Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as Shaiva disciplines.