Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 48

विष्णु-ब्रह्म-विवाद-वर्णनम्

Description of the Viṣṇu–Brahmā Dispute and Brahmā’s Confusion

Devanagari script

ज्लामालासहस्राढ्यं कालानलशतोपमम् । क्षयवृद्धि विनिर्मुक्तमादिमध्यांतवर्जितम्

Transliteration

jlāmālāsahasrāḍhyaṃ kālānalaśatopamam | kṣayavṛddhi vinirmuktamādimadhyāṃtavarjitam

Translation

Nó được trang nghiêm bằng hàng ngàn tràng hoa rực lửa, tựa trăm ngọn hỏa diệm của đại hỏa kiếp Thời Gian; vượt ngoài hoại diệt và tăng trưởng, không có khởi đầu, không có đoạn giữa, cũng chẳng có tận cùng.

Word by Word

• ज्लामाला-सहस्र-आढ्यम्: abounding in a thousand garlands
• ज्लामाला-सहस्र-आढ्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्लामाला + सहस्र + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (सहस्रेण ज्लामालानां आढ्यम् = rich with a thousand garlands)

• काल-अनल-शत-उपमम्: like a hundred time-fires
• काल-अनल-शत-उपमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काल + अनल + शत + उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (कालानलस्य शतस्य उपमम् = comparable to a hundred fires of Time/Death)

• क्षय-वृद्धि: decay and increase
• क्षय-वृद्धि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षय + वृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्वे नपुंसकत्वं सम्भवति; अत्र पद-रूपे अव्यक्त), प्रातिपदिक-समास; ‘decay and growth’ (as a pair)

• विनिर्मुक्तम्: freed (from)
• विनिर्मुक्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + निर् + मुच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘freed from’

• आदि-मध्य-अन्त-वर्जितम्: devoid of beginning, middle, and end
• आदि-मध्य-अन्त-वर्जितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आदि + मध्य + अन्त + वर्जित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) ‘वर्जित’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (आदि-मध्य-अन्त) + तत्पुरुष (तेन वर्जितम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Rudrasaṃhitā account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Liṅgodbhava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: This verse describes the anādi-ananta jyotiḥ-stambha (pillar of light) that manifests to humble Brahmā and Viṣṇu; later Śaiva tradition reads this as the archetype behind liṅga-worship and the Liṅgodbhava episode (not a single fixed jyotirliṅga site in this verse).

Significance: Darśana/śravaṇa of the anādi-ananta Liṅga principle is said to dissolve pride and orient the soul toward Śiva’s transcendence beyond measurable limits.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Theophany of the kālānala-sadṛśa jyotiḥ-stambha (cosmic fire-like epiphany) indicating transcendence beyond temporal decay/growth.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents Shiva’s supreme reality as timeless and changeless—beyond increase and decay—indicating the Pati (Lord) who transcends all created conditions and is realized through steady devotion and inner contemplation.

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

The imagery of blazing, innumerable radiance points to the Linga-principle as Shiva’s limitless presence: while devotees may approach Saguna forms through worship, the verse emphasizes the Nirguna truth—without beginning, middle, or end—revealed through that worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as Kāla-atīta (beyond time) while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” visualizing an endless, radiant presence that is untouched by growth or decline.