Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 19

रुद्रस्य परमात्मत्वे ब्रह्मपुत्रत्वादिसंशयप्रश्नः — Questions on Rudra’s Supremacy and His ‘Sonship’ to Brahmā

Devanagari script

नारायणं पुनर्ब्रह्मा ब्रह्माणमसृजत्पुनः । एवं कल्पेषु कल्पेषु ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेश्वराः

Transliteration

nārāyaṇaṃ punarbrahmā brahmāṇamasṛjatpunaḥ | evaṃ kalpeṣu kalpeṣu brahmaviṣṇumaheśvarāḥ

Translation

梵天一次又一次化生那罗延；那罗延亦一次又一次化生梵天。于是，在一劫复一劫之中，三尊——梵天、毗湿奴与大自在天（摩诃伊湿伐罗）——依宇宙法则反复显现。

Word by Word

• नारायणम्: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरावृत्ति-अव्यय (adverb)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• ब्रह्माणम्: Brahmā (another Brahmā)
• ब्रह्माणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• असृजत्: created
• असृजत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरावृत्ति-अव्यय (adverb)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार-अव्यय (adverb: thus)

• कल्पेषु: in kalpas
• कल्पेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• कल्पेषु: in (many) kalpas
• कल्पेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन (Plural); पुनरुक्ति (repetition for emphasis)

• ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेश्वराः: Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Maheśvara
• ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेश्वराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); त्रिपद-द्वन्द्व-समास

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā teaching to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: repeating kalpa cycles; concealment of ultimate supremacy behind role-based mutual origination

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes the repetitive, cyclical nature of cosmic manifestation (kalpas) and points beyond it to Maheśvara as the enduring Lord (Pati) whose sovereignty is not exhausted by creation and dissolution.

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

By showing that Brahmā and Viṣṇu recur within cycles, the text prepares the devotee to seek the stable refuge of Maheśvara—worshiped as the Liṅga (the enduring sign of the Supreme) and as Saguna Śiva for grace within the world.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate the impermanence of kalpa-bound roles and steady the mind in Śiva as the constant Lord; practically, this aligns with daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and Liṅga-dhyāna as the unchanging support amid cosmic change.