Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 52

विष्णूत्पत्तिवर्णनम्

Description of the Origin/Manifestation of Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

अभिव्याप्तं च सकलं शून्यं यत्तन्महामुने । ब्रह्मरूपं जलमभूत्स्पर्शनात्पापनाशनम्

Transliteration

abhivyāptaṃ ca sakalaṃ śūnyaṃ yattanmahāmune | brahmarūpaṃ jalamabhūtsparśanātpāpanāśanam

Translation

大圣者啊，当一切都被那遍满一切的“空”所充塞时，诸水便生起，成为梵（Brahman）之形；以其触及，罪垢得以消灭。

Word by Word

• अभिव्याप्तम्: pervaded
• अभिव्याप्तम्: Karta-predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि√व्याप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ‘pervaded/filled’

• च: and
• च: Conjunction (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• सकलम्: entire/all
• सकलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषण

• शून्यम्: void/empty expanse
• शून्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शून्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषण

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; निर्देशक

• महामुने: O great sage
• महामुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; ‘महान् मुनिः’ इति कर्मधारय

• ब्रह्म-रूपम्: having the form of Brahman
• ब्रह्म-रूपम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ‘ब्रह्मणः रूपम्’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; विशेषण (to जलम्)

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• अभूत्: became/was
• अभूत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (अद्यतनभूत/Aorist), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्पर्शनात्: from touch/by touching
• स्पर्शनात्: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्पर्शन (प्रातिपदिक; √स्पृश् + ल्युट्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; कारणार्थे ‘from/through touching’

• पाप-नाशनम्: destroyer of sins
• पाप-नाशनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + नाशन (प्रातिपदिक; √नश्/√नाश् + ल्युट्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ‘पापस्य नाशनम्’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; विशेषण (to जलम्)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames primordial waters as brahma-rūpa and pāpa-nāśana, supporting the general tīrtha-doctrine that contact with sanctified waters purifies and prepares the paśu for Śiva-anugraha.

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: pre-cosmic unmanifestation giving rise to āpas (primordial waters)

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• water (jala)

FAQs

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

It links cosmogony with purification: from the unmanifest, all-pervading state arises sacred water imbued with brahma-tattva, teaching that contact with sanctified elements supports inner cleansing and readiness for Shiva-realization.

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

In Shiva worship, water is central to abhiṣeka of the Liṅga; this verse grounds that practice in creation itself—water is portrayed as inherently purifying, thus fit for offering to Saguna Shiva while pointing to the supreme reality beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform snāna (ritual bathing) and Liṅga-abhiṣeka with a contemplative attitude—touching and offering water while remembering its brahma-nature and reciting Shiva mantras (especially the Pañcākṣarī) as a discipline for pāpa-kṣaya and inner purity.