Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 44

शिवज्ञान-प्रश्नः तथा सृष्टौ शिवस्य स्वयमाविर्भावः

Inquiry into Śiva-knowledge and Śiva’s self-manifestation in creation

Devanagari script

ऋभुस्सत्यो भार्गवश्च ह्यंगिराः सविता द्विजाः । मृत्युः शतक्रतुर्धीमान्वसिष्ठो मुनिपुंगवः

Transliteration

ṛbhussatyo bhārgavaśca hyaṃgirāḥ savitā dvijāḥ | mṛtyuḥ śatakraturdhīmānvasiṣṭho munipuṃgavaḥ

Translation

此处所说者中，有梨布（Ṛbhu）、萨提亚（Satya）、婆尔伽瓦（Bhārgava）与安吉罗萨（Aṅgiras）；又有二次生的萨维塔（Savitā）；有死神摩利提优（Mṛtyu）；有睿智的沙塔克拉图（Śatakratu，即因陀罗）；以及圣贤之最的瓦西什塔（Vasiṣṭha）。

Word by Word

• ṛbhuḥ: R̥bhu (name)
• ṛbhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛbhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• satyaḥ: Satya (name)
• satyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhārgavaḥ: Bhārgava (descendant of Bhṛgu)
• bhārgavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhārgava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (निपात), emphatic/indeed

• aṅgirāḥ: the Aṅgirases / Aṅgirā(s)
• aṅgirāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅgiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• savitā: Savitṛ (the Sun/impeller)
• savitā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: savitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• dvijāḥ: twice-born (Brahmins)
• dvijāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• mṛtyuḥ: Death (personified)
• mṛtyuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛtyu (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• śatakratuḥ: Śatakratu (Indra)
• śatakratuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक) + kratu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); Bahuvrīhi (बहुव्रीहि) ‘yasya śataṃ kratavaḥ’ (Indra)

• dhīmān: wise/intelligent
• dhīmān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• vasiṣṭhaḥ: Vasiṣṭha (name)
• vasiṣṭhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasiṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• muni-puṃgavaḥ: best of sages
• muni-puṃgavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + puṃgava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); Tatpuruṣa ‘munīnām puṃgavaḥ’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Savitā
• Mṛtyu
• Indra (Śatakratu)
• Vasiṣṭha
• Aṅgiras
• Bhārgava
• Ṛbhu
• Satya

FAQs

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

The verse lists eminent sages and cosmic powers, implying that beings of every order—rishis, devas, and even Death—are included within the sacred discourse and ultimately stand under the sovereignty of Pati (Lord Shiva), the supreme liberator in Shaiva Siddhanta.

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

By naming authoritative rishis and devas, the text establishes a lineage of recognition: those who uphold dharma also revere Shiva’s Saguna manifestation (such as the Linga) as the accessible focus through which grace descends and bondage (pāśa) is loosened.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to worship Shiva with mantra-japa—especially the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—while cultivating humility like the great rishis, and supporting practice with Shaiva marks such as Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha where appropriate.