Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 9

विष्णूत्पत्तिवर्णनम्

Description of the Origin/Manifestation of Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

अमनोगोचरम्वाचां विषयन्न कदाचन । अनामरूपवर्णं च न च स्थूलं न यत्कृशम्

Transliteration

amanogocaramvācāṃ viṣayanna kadācana | anāmarūpavarṇaṃ ca na ca sthūlaṃ na yatkṛśam

Translation

Siya’y lampas sa abot ng isip at kailanma’y hindi nagiging paksa ng pananalita. Siya’y walang pangalan, anyo, o kulay; hindi magaspang at hindi rin manipis—ganyan dapat maunawaan ang Kataas-taasang Panginoon (Śiva), ang Pati na lampas sa lahat.

Word by Word

• a-mano-gocaram: beyond the mind’s range
• a-mano-gocaram: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + manas (मनस्) + gocara (गोचर) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa with negation (नञ्-तत्पुरुष; ‘not within the range of mind’); Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• vācām: of speech/words
• vācām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (वाच्) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (6th/षष्ठी), Bahuvacana

• viṣayam: object; domain
• viṣayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣaya (विषय) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; here as predicate ‘object/domain’

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (न)
• Form: Avyaya, negation particle

• kadācana: ever; at any time
• kadācana: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadācana (कदाचन)
• Form: Avyaya, temporal adverb (कालवाचक)

• a-nāma-rūpa-varṇam: without name, form, and color/description
• a-nāma-rūpa-varṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + nāma (नाम) + rūpa (रूप) + varṇa (वर्ण) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva (द्वन्द्व) of nāma-rūpa-varṇa with nञ्-negation (नञ्); Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction (समुच्चय)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (न)
• Form: Avyaya, negation particle

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction

• sthūlam: gross; bulky
• sthūlam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthūla (स्थूल) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (न)
• Form: Avyaya, negation particle

• yat: which (that)
• yat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद्) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; relative pronoun referring to the described entity

• kṛśam: thin; subtle (not emaciated)
• kṛśam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛśa (कृश) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Purāṇic teaching on Śiva’s nirguṇa nature to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva’s highest reality is nirguṇa—beyond mental conception and verbal description—so liberation comes through inner realization and grace rather than mere intellectual definition.

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

Although Śiva is ultimately beyond name and form, devotees approach Him compassionately through saguna supports like the Śiva-liṅga, mantra, and pūjā; these are gateways leading the mind toward the formless truth indicated here.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with meditation that releases mental images, contemplating Śiva as beyond speech and thought while using worship as a steadying support.