Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 2

विष्णूत्पत्तिवर्णनम्

Description of the Origin/Manifestation of Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

अचन्द्रमनहोरात्रमनग्न्यनिलभूजलम् । अप्रधानं वियच्छून्यमन्यतेजोविवर्जितम्

Transliteration

acandramanahorātramanagnyanilabhūjalam | apradhānaṃ viyacchūnyamanyatejovivarjitam

Translation

彼时无月，无昼夜；无火，无风，无地，无水。连普拉达那（原质）亦未有；唯有空寂的虚空，绝无他光与辉耀——在主为创化而显现之前。

Word by Word

• a-candram: without the moon
• a-candram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + candra (चन्द्र प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); negative adjective

• a-ahaḥ-rātram: without day and night
• a-ahaḥ-rātram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + ahaḥ (अहस्) + rātra (रात्रि/रात्र प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); dvandva ‘day-and-night’ with negation

• a-agni-anila-bhū-jalam: without fire, wind, earth, and water
• a-agni-anila-bhū-jalam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + agni (अग्नि) + anila (अनिल) + bhū (भू) + jala (जल)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); copulative list ‘fire, wind, earth, water’ with negation

• a-pradhānam: without pradhāna (primordial matter)
• a-pradhānam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + pradhāna (प्रधान प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• viyat-śūnyam: void of space/sky
• viyat-śūnyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viyat (वियत् प्रातिपदिक) + śūnya (शून्य प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• anya-tejaḥ-vivarjitam: devoid of any other light/energy
• anya-tejaḥ-vivarjitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (अन्य) + tejas (तेजस्) + vi + varjita (वर्जित; √vṛj/√varj)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); past passive participle (क्त) ‘vivarjita’ = ‘devoid of’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Contemplation of the pre-manifest void underscores the need for the Lord’s self-revelation; encourages vairāgya and dependence on Śiva for manifestation and meaning.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: pre-creation (prāk-sṛṣṭi) condition; absence of luminaries and bhūtas prior to manifestation

FAQs

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

It points to a pre-creation condition where time, elements, and even primal matter are absent, implying that the ultimate ground is beyond material categories—Shiva as the transcendent Pati, from whom manifestation proceeds.

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

By describing a state without any visible supports (light, elements, time), the text prepares the devotee to understand the Liṅga as the sign of the formless, attributeless reality—Saguna worship leading the mind toward Shiva who transcends all created principles.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Shiva beyond day-night and beyond the elements while repeating the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), using inner stillness (śūnyabhāvanā) as a doorway to devotion and liberation.