Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 3

मन्वन्तर-कल्प-प्रश्नोत्तरम् / Discourse on Manvantaras, Kalpas, and Re-creation

Devanagari script

दिवसे दिवसे तस्य ब्रह्मणः पूर्वजन्मनः । चतुर्दशमहाभागा मनूनां परिवृत्तयः

Transliteration

divase divase tasya brahmaṇaḥ pūrvajanmanaḥ | caturdaśamahābhāgā manūnāṃ parivṛttayaḥ

Translation

日复一日，在梵天先前的显现周期中，摩奴（Manu）的大传承依次轮转，共有十四位。

Word by Word

• दिवसे: in a day
• दिवसे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• दिवसे: day by day
• दिवसे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (repetition for distributive sense)

• तस्य: of that/of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā/Brahman
• ब्रह्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पूर्व-जन्मनः: of the former birth/previous creation
• पूर्व-जन्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: तत्पुरुष (पूर्वं जन्म यस्य/पूर्वस्य जन्मनः)

• चतुर्दश-महा-भागाः: fourteen great portions
• चतुर्दश-महा-भागाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्दश (संख्याप्रातिपदिक) + महा (उपसर्गवत्/प्रातिपदिक) + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समास: तत्पुरुष (चतुर्दश महान्तः भागाः)

• मनूनाम्: of the Manus
• मनूनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• परिवृत्तयः: cycles/turnings (successions)
• परिवृत्तयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिवृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Manvantara succession (14 Manus) within a Brahmā-day cycle

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Manu

FAQs

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

It highlights the ordered, time-bound rhythm of cosmic governance (manvantaras) under Brahmā, implying that all such cycles are transient—while liberation is sought in the timeless Lord (Pati), central to Shaiva Siddhanta.

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

By emphasizing the recurring cycles of creation, it points devotees toward the stable refuge beyond change—Shiva as the Supreme Reality. Linga-worship symbolizes that unchanging ground (Nishkala) even while the universe revolves through manvantaras.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the Lord beyond time while chanting the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), cultivating detachment from cyclical worldly change; daily japa with vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) supports this steady remembrance.