Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 49

विष्णु-ब्रह्म-विवाद-वर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

अनौपम्यमनिर्देश्यमव्यक्तं विश्वसंभवम् । तस्य ज्वालासहस्रेण मोहितो भगवान्हरिः

Transliteration

anaupamyamanirdeśyamavyaktaṃ viśvasaṃbhavam | tasya jvālāsahasreṇa mohito bhagavānhariḥ

Translation

Thực tại ấy vô song, không thể diễn tả, ẩn mật vô tướng, chính là nguồn phát sinh của vũ trụ; trước Thực tại rực cháy bằng ngàn ngọn lửa ấy, ngay cả Bhagavān Hari (Viṣṇu) cũng bàng hoàng mê mờ.

Word by Word

• अनौपम्यम्: incomparable
• अनौपम्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनौपम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अनिर्देश्यम्: indescribable
• अनिर्देश्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनिर्देश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अव्यक्तम्: unmanifest
• अव्यक्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• विश्व-सम्भवम्: source of the universe
• विश्व-सम्भवम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्व + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (विश्वस्य सम्भवः/सम्भवम् = source/origin of the universe)

• तस्य: of that (one)
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• ज्वाला-सहस्रेण: by a thousand flames
• ज्वाला-सहस्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्वाला + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (ज्वालानां सहस्रेण = by a thousand flames)

• मोहितः: bewildered
• मोहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि-भाव (passive sense)

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेष्य (qualifies हरिः)

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

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Liṅgodbhava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse explicitly characterizes the jyotiḥ-stambha as anirdeśya/avyakta—an ontological ‘source of the universe’ that overwhelms even Viṣṇu; this is the doctrinal core of the Liṅgodbhava sthala-narrative genre rather than a single named jyotirliṅga here.

Significance: Contemplation of Śiva as anirdeśya (beyond speech) and avyaktam (beyond sense) is held to cut through māyika certainty and egoic comparison, preparing the soul for anugraha.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Epiphany that suspends ordinary cognition: even Hari is mohitā—signaling tirodhāna (concealment of true measure) preceding revelation.

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as incomparable and beyond speech—yet the very womb of the cosmos—showing that even great deities are limited before Śiva’s transcendent Reality, which is grasped through grace and inner realization rather than mere intellect.

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

The imagery of innumerable flames aligns with the Liṅga as the sign of the formless Infinite (nirguṇa) appearing as a perceivable focus (saguṇa/arcā) for devotion—radiance that points beyond form while still being worship-worthy.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as the inner Light (jyotis) while japa-ing the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”; support it with Śiva-pūjā using vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as aids to steadiness and remembrance.