Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 3

विष्णूत्पत्तिवर्णनम्

Description of the Origin/Manifestation of Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

शिवतत्त्वं मया नैव विष्णुनापि यथार्थतः । ज्ञातश्च परमं रूपमद्भुतं च परेण न

Transliteration

śivatattvaṃ mayā naiva viṣṇunāpi yathārthataḥ | jñātaśca paramaṃ rūpamadbhutaṃ ca pareṇa na

Translation

“湿婆（Śiva）的真实本原（tattva）并未被如实了知——既非我所知，亦非毗湿奴（Viṣṇu）所知。那至上而奇妙的形相，也未曾被任何他者完全领悟。”

Word by Word

• śiva-tattvam: the principle/reality of Śiva
• śiva-tattvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + tattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष-समास: 'śivasya tattvam'

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Kartṛ-karaṇa (कर्तृ-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• na: not
• na: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), negation particle (निषेध)

• eva: even; indeed
• eva: Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), restrictive/emphatic particle (निपात)

• viṣṇunā: by Viṣṇu
• viṣṇunā: Kartṛ-karaṇa (कर्तृ-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• api: also; even
• api: Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (निपात): 'also/even'

• yathārthataḥ: truly; as it really is
• yathārthataḥ: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā + artha (प्रातिपदिक) + tas (तसिल्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) formed with -tas (तसिल्): 'in accordance with reality/truly'

• jñātaḥ: known
• jñātaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया) / Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jñā (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); used predicatively: 'known'

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चय)

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with rūpam

• rūpam: form
• rūpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• adbhutam: wonderful
• adbhutam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adbhuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with rūpam

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चय)

• pareṇa: by another (one)
• pareṇa: Kartṛ-karaṇa (कर्तृ-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); here: 'by another/superior one'

• na: not
• na: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), negation particle (निषेध)

Speaker

Brahmā

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It affirms Śiva-tattva as transcendent and limitless: even cosmic authorities like Brahmā and Viṣṇu cannot grasp Him fully, indicating that liberation requires Śiva’s grace and a devotional, inward realization rather than mere intellectual reach.

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

Because the supreme reality is beyond complete conceptualization, the Purāṇa supports approaching Śiva through accessible manifestations—especially the Śiva-liṅga—as a sacred focus where the Nirguṇa truth is honored through a Saguna symbol and rite.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is mantra-japa with the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) combined with liṅga-pūjā and contemplative humility, seeking direct experience and Śiva’s anugraha (grace) rather than claiming total conceptual mastery.