Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 19

Śiva–Hari–Rudra–Vidhīnāṃ Tattva-nirṇayaḥ

Identity of Śiva, Viṣṇu, Rudra, and Brahmā; Nirguṇa–Saguṇa Reconciliation

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मादि तृणपर्यंतं यत्किंचिद्दृश्यते त्विह । तत्सर्वं शिव एवास्ति मिथ्या नानात्वकल्पना

Transliteration

brahmādi tṛṇaparyaṃtaṃ yatkiṃciddṛśyate tviha | tatsarvaṃ śiva evāsti mithyā nānātvakalpanā

Translation

Mula kay Brahmā hanggang sa isang hibla ng damo, anumang nakikita rito—alamin na ang lahat ay si Śiva lamang. Ang guniguni ng pagkakaiba-iba ay huwad.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मादि: beginning with Brahmā
• ब्रह्मादि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्म आदिः यस्य/यत्र)

• तृणपर्यन्तम्: up to a blade of grass
• तृणपर्यन्तम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृण + पर्यन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (तृणं पर्यन्तं यावत्)

• यत्: whatever (that which)
• यत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक-सर्वनाम

• किंचित्: anything, something
• किंचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः ‘some/anything’

• दृश्यते: is seen/appears
• दृश्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive)

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

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; निर्देश-सर्वनाम

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier of तत्)

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• एव: alone/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• अस्ति: is
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मिथ्या: falsely/illusorily
• मिथ्या: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मिथ्या (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• नानात्वकल्पना: the imagination of multiplicity
• नानात्वकल्पना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नानात्व + कल्पना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (नानात्वस्य कल्पना)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It teaches Shiva as the single underlying reality (Pati) pervading all names and forms; liberation arises when the seeker drops the false notion of separateness and recognizes everything as belonging to and grounded in Śiva.

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

Linga worship trains the mind to see the one Śiva behind all forms; by honoring Saguna Śiva (as Linga/Jyotirlinga), the devotee matures toward the insight that the entire manifest world is sustained by Śiva alone.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while contemplating that every perception is Śiva’s presence; support it with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders to dissolve ‘many-ness’ into one-pointed devotion.