Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 56

शिवतत्त्ववर्णनम् (Śiva-tattva-varṇana) — “Description/Exposition of the Principle of Śiva”

Devanagari script

उभयोरंतरं यो वै न जानाति मनो मम । वामांगजो मम हरिर्दक्षिणांगोद्भवो विधिः

Transliteration

ubhayoraṃtaraṃ yo vai na jānāti mano mama | vāmāṃgajo mama harirdakṣiṇāṃgodbhavo vidhiḥ

Translation

جو میرے من کے مطابق ان دونوں کے باطنی فرق کو حقیقتاً نہیں جانتا، وہ یہ جان لے—ہری (وشنو) میرے بائیں انگ سے پیدا ہوا اور وِدھی (برہما) میرے دائیں انگ سے ظاہر ہوا۔

Word by Word

• उभयोः: of both
• उभयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; Genitive dual (of both)

• अन्तरम्: difference/interval
• अन्तरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Relative pronoun

• वै: indeed
• वै: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• न: not
• न: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• जानाति: knows
• जानाति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘knows’

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Genitive singular

• वाम: left
• वाम: —
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक; stem used as prior member in compound

• अङ्ग: limb/side
• अङ्ग: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; stem used as prior member in compound

• जः: born
• जः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘born’ (as final member)

• वाम-अङ्ग-जः: born from the left side
• वाम-अङ्ग-जः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष: ‘वामे अङ्गे जातः’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies हरिः

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हरिः: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दक्षिण: right
• दक्षिण: —
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक; stem used as prior member in compound

• अङ्ग: limb/side
• अङ्ग: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; stem used as prior member in compound

• उद्भवः: arisen/originating
• उद्भवः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्-√भू (धातु) + अप् (प्रत्यय) → उद्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; action/result noun ‘arising/origin’

• दक्षिण-अङ्ग-उद्भवः: originating from the right side
• दक्षिण-अङ्ग-उद्भवः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष: ‘दक्षिणे अङ्गे उद्भवः’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies विधिः

• विधिः: Vidhī (Brahmā)
• विधिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Sadāśiva/Rudra) explaining the origin and distinction of Viṣṇu and Brahmā within the creation narrative

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The ‘left/right side’ emanation motif is used in some local traditions to explain the sanctity of paired shrines (Hari-Śiva, Brahmā-Śiva) as cosmic body-parts of the Lord, though no single Jyotirliṅga is specified here.

Significance: Reinforces Śiva as the source of functional deities; pilgrimage to Śiva-kṣetras is framed as returning to the source (pati) beyond derivative powers.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It asserts Śiva as the transcendent source (Pati) from whom the cosmic functions emerge, and teaches discernment: Brahmā and Viṣṇu are empowered roles within creation, while Śiva remains the inner ground beyond them.

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

By presenting Śiva as the origin of the cosmic powers, it supports Liṅga/Saguṇa worship as devotion to the supreme source, not merely to a deity among equals—Liṅga signifies that underlying, all-supporting reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with contemplation that all divine functions arise in Śiva; this cultivates steady bhakti and right discernment (viveka) toward mokṣa.