Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 4

त्रिमूर्तिसाम्यं तथा महेश्वरस्य परमार्थकारणत्वम् | Equality of the Trimūrti and Maheśvara as the Supreme Cause

Devanagari script

सृष्टिस्थितिलयाख्येषु कर्मसु त्रिषु हेतुताम् । प्रभुत्वेन सहैतेषां प्रसीदति महेश्वरः

Transliteration

sṛṣṭisthitilayākhyeṣu karmasu triṣu hetutām | prabhutvena sahaiteṣāṃ prasīdati maheśvaraḥ

Translation

Sa tatlong gawain na tinatawag na paglikha, pag-iingat, at pagkalusaw, si Mahādeva ang nagiging panloob na sanhi; at kalakip ng Kanyang makapangyarihang paghahari sa mga lakas na ito, si Maheśvara ay mahabaging namumuno, nagkakaloob ng kaayusan at kaganapan sa takbo ng sansinukob.

Word by Word

• सृष्टिस्थितिलयाख्येषु: in (acts) called creation, maintenance, and dissolution
• सृष्टिस्थितिलयाख्येषु: अधिकरण (locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सृष्टि + स्थिति + लय + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (सृष्टि-स्थिति-लय इति आख्यं येषु); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; agreeing with कर्मसु

• कर्मसु: in actions/rites
• कर्मसु: अधिकरण (locus)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; Locative plural

• त्रिषु: in the three
• त्रिषु: विशेषण (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; numeral adjective agreeing with कर्मसु

• हेतुताम्: causality/the state of being a cause
• हेतुताम्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेतुता (प्रातिपदिक; हेतु + ता)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• प्रभुत्वेन: through lordship/as sovereignty
• प्रभुत्वेन: करण/प्रकार (manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभुत्व (प्रातिपदिक; प्रभु + त्व)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; Instrumental of manner/state

• सह: with/together with
• सह: सहकारक (association)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (preposition/adverb) ‘with’

• एतेषाम्: of these
• एतेषाम्: सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; Genitive plural

• प्रसीदति: is pleased/favours
• प्रसीदति: क्रिया (main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √सद् (धातु) (प्र + √सद्)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘is pleased/favours’

• महेश्वरः: Maheshvara (the Great Lord)
• महेश्वरः: कर्ता (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक; महा + ईश्वर)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास (‘महान् ईश्वरः’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva (Pati) is not merely one actor among many, but the gracious inner cause and sovereign governor of creation, preservation, and dissolution—so liberation comes through recognizing His lordship and aligning oneself with His grace.

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

The Liṅga symbolizes Śiva as the unseen causal reality behind all change; worshiping Saguna Śiva through the Liṅga trains the mind to see the one Lord presiding over the three cosmic functions, culminating in devotion and surrender to the Supreme Cause.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as the inner ruler of sṛṣṭi–sthiti–laya while repeating the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”); offer water/bilva to the Liṅga with the intention of surrendering all actions to His प्रभुत्व (lordship).