Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 20

अग्नीषोमात्मकविश्ववर्णनम् / The Universe as Agni–Soma

Fire and Nectar

Devanagari script

हृदि कृत्वेममर्थं वै देवेन समुदाहृतम् । अग्नीषोमात्मकं विश्वं जगदित्यनुरूपतः

Transliteration

hṛdi kṛtvemamarthaṃ vai devena samudāhṛtam | agnīṣomātmakaṃ viśvaṃ jagadityanurūpataḥ

Translation

当将天主所宣说的此义牢牢安住于心，应依其真实旨趣而了知：整个宇宙、此一切动转之世间，皆具阿耆尼与苏摩（Agni、Soma）之性，即两种相辅相成的力量。

Word by Word

• हृदि: in the heart
• हृदि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having placed (kept in mind)
• कृत्वा: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive): having placed/done

• इमम्: this
• इमम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक-सम्भव, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेष्य-निर्देश (this)

• अर्थम्: meaning/purport
• अर्थम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: सम्बोधन/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक/उपपादक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• देवेन: by the god
• देवेन: कर्ता (Kartā/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृकरणे (agent in passive sense)

• समुदाहृतम्: proclaimed/uttered
• समुदाहृतम्: क्रियाविशेष्य (Predicate/Verbal adjective)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-उद्-आ-हृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle/कर्मणि कृदन्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (contextually predicate of अर्थम्): ‘has been proclaimed’

• अग्नीषोम-आत्मकम्: having the nature of Agni and Soma
• अग्नीषोम-आत्मकम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + सोम (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: अग्नीषोमयोः आत्मा यस्य = consisting of Agni and Soma; विशेषण of विश्वम्

• विश्वम्: the universe
• विश्वम्: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: समानााधिकरण (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विश्वम् इत्यस्य अप्पोजिशन (apposition)

• इति: thus
• इति: इति-सम्बन्ध (Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• अनुरूपतः: accordingly / in conformity
• अनुरूपतः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनुरूपतस् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): suitably/accordingly

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Agni
• Soma

FAQs

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

It teaches contemplative assimilation: the seeker should internalize Shiva’s instruction and perceive creation as a harmonized polarity (Agni–Soma), pointing to Shiva as the transcendent Lord who integrates and governs all powers.

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

The Linga represents the all-containing reality of Shiva; seeing the universe as Agni–Soma helps the devotee recognize Saguna manifestations (energies and functions) as resting in the one Pati, Shiva, whose symbol is the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A heart-centered dhyāna: silently contemplate Shiva’s teaching while japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” balancing inner heat and coolness (Agni–Soma) through steady breath and devotion.