Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 10

हंस-वराह-रूपग्रहण-कारणम्

The Reason for Assuming the Swan and Boar Forms

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । हंसस्य चोर्द्ध्वगमने गतिर्भवति निश्चला । तत्त्वातत्त्वविवेकोऽस्ति जलदुग्धविभागवत्

Transliteration

brahmovāca | haṃsasya corddhvagamane gatirbhavati niścalā | tattvātattvaviveko'sti jaladugdhavibhāgavat

Translation

Sinabi ni Brahmā: “Kapag ang Haṃsa (ang nagising na kaluluwa) ay umaakyat paitaas, ang landas nito’y nagiging matatag at di-natitinag. Doon sumisilang ang paghiwatig sa Totoo at di-totoo—gaya ng paghihiwalay ng gatas sa tubig.”

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• हंसस्य: of the swan
• हंसस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• ऊर्ध्वगमने: in upward movement
• ऊर्ध्वगमने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location-Context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊर्ध्व + गमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष: ऊर्ध्वं गमनम्

• गतिः: movement/going
• गतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• भवति: becomes/is
• भवति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• निश्चला: steady/immovable
• निश्चला: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निश्चल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifier) गतिः

• तत्त्वातत्त्वविवेकः: discernment of real and unreal
• तत्त्वातत्त्वविवेकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व + अतत्त्व + विवेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); द्वन्द्व (itaretara) in first member: तत्त्व + अतत्त्व; तत्पुरुष with विवेक: तत्त्वातत्त्वयोः विवेकः

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

• जलदुग्धविभागवत्: like the separation of water and milk
• जलदुग्धविभागवत्: Upamana (उपमान/Simile standard)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जल + दुग्ध + विभाग + वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत्-प्रयोग (indeclinable-like comparative), पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसक-समासान्त; उपमानवाचक: ‘...वत्’ (like); तत्पुरुष: जलदुग्धयोः विभागः

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

It teaches that true spiritual ascent brings steadiness and clear viveka—discerning the eternal Reality (aligned with Pati, Shiva) from the transient (pāśa/bondage), which is essential for liberation.

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

Linga-worship trains the mind toward one-pointedness; as devotion matures, the seeker gains steadiness and discernment, moving from outer form (saguṇa upāsanā) to direct recognition of Shiva as the supreme Reality beyond confusion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna with steady upward attention (ūrdhva-gati) supported by japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—to cultivate unwavering focus and tattva–atattva discrimination.