Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 55

प्रणवविभागः—वेदस्वरूपत्वं लिङ्गे च प्रतिष्ठा

The Division of Oṃ, Its Vedic Forms, and Its Placement in the Liṅga

Devanagari script

प्रशांतमनसौ देवौ प्रबुद्धौ संबभूवतुः । उत्पत्तिं विलयं चैव यथात्म्यं च षडध्वनाम्

Transliteration

praśāṃtamanasau devau prabuddhau saṃbabhūvatuḥ | utpattiṃ vilayaṃ caiva yathātmyaṃ ca ṣaḍadhvanām

Translation

Sa payapang isipan, ang dalawang diyos ay ganap na nagising; at malinaw nilang naunawaan ang paglitaw at pagkalusaw, gayundin ang tunay na kalikasan ng anim na landas (ṣaḍ-adhvā) na bumubuo sa kaayusan ng nahayag na daigdig.

Word by Word

• प्रशान्त-मनसौ: the two whose minds were calm
• प्रशान्त-मनसौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रशान्त (कृदन्त, क्त; √शम्) + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; बहुव्रीहिसमासः (ययोः मनः प्रशान्तम् तौ)

• देवौ: the two gods
• देवौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन

• प्रबुद्धौ: awakened; enlightened
• प्रबुद्धौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रबुद्ध (कृदन्त, क्त; प्र + √बुध्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

• सम्-बभूवतुः: became
• सम्-बभूवतुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + √भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), द्विवचन; परस्मैपद

• उत्पत्तिम्: creation; arising
• उत्पत्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्पत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• विलयम्: dissolution
• विलयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• एव: indeed; just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• यथात्म्यम्: true nature; reality (as it is)
• यथात्म्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + आत्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावसमासः (यथाऽत्म्यं = ‘as it truly is/according to its nature’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• षड्-अध्वनाम्: of the six paths/courses (ṣaḍadhvā)
• षड्-अध्वनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् (प्रातिपदिक/संख्याशब्द) + अध्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; द्विगुसमासः (षट् अध्वानः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a site legend; it is a doctrinal statement about prabodha (awakening) and comprehension of ṣaḍ-adhvā, a key Siddhānta cosmological schema.

Significance: General: understanding ṣaḍ-adhvā (kalā, tattva, bhuvana, varṇa, pada, mantra) is treated as a map for sādhana and liberation-oriented worship.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It highlights that true knowledge arises when the mind becomes calm: then one perceives how the cosmos proceeds and returns (utpatti–vilaya) and understands the ṣaḍadhvā, the ordered framework through which bound souls (paśu) experience the world—pointing toward liberation under Shiva as Pati.

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

Saguna worship (including Linga-upāsanā) steadies devotion and concentrates the mind; that inner steadiness matures into awakened insight where the devotee sees manifestation and dissolution as governed by Shiva’s lordship, moving from form-based contemplation toward grasping Shiva’s deeper, guiding reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna that pacifies the mind—japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady breath and contemplation of laya (withdrawal into Shiva), optionally supported by wearing Rudrākṣa and applying Tripuṇḍra as aids to remembrance and discipline.