Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 23

शक्त्यादिसृष्टिनिरूपणम् / The Account of Creation Beginning with Śakti

Devanagari script

ततः पुनरशेषाणां भूतानां प्रभवाप्ययात् । अव्यक्तादभवत्सृष्टिराज्ञया परमेष्ठिनः

Transliteration

tataḥ punaraśeṣāṇāṃ bhūtānāṃ prabhavāpyayāt | avyaktādabhavatsṛṣṭirājñayā parameṣṭhinaḥ

Translation

ثم من جديد، ولجميع الكائنات—في نشأتها وفنائها—مضت الخليقة من الأفيَكتا (غير المتجلّي)، بأمر الربّ الأعلى باراميشثين، الحاكم المتعالي.

Word by Word

• ततः: then / thereafter
• ततः: Kāla (काल/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अपादानार्थ

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्ति (again)

• अशेषाणाम्: of all / without remainder
• अशेषाणाम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक (भूतानाम् इत्यस्य अनुरूप), षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण ‘भूतानाम्’

• भूतानाम्: of beings / elements
• भूतानाम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• प्रभवाप्ययात्: from (their) origin and dissolution
• प्रभवाप्ययात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभव + अप्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (प्रभवश्च अप्ययश्च); पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन

• अव्यक्तात्: from the unmanifest
• अव्यक्तात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अव्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन

• अभवत्: arose / came to be
• अभवत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• सृष्टिः: creation
• सृष्टिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• आज्ञया: by the command
• आज्ञया: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/हेतु), एकवचन

• परमेष्ठिनः: of the Supreme Lord (Brahmā)
• परमेष्ठिनः: Sambandha (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमेष्ठिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: cyclic creation within recurring origination–dissolution (prabhava–apyaya) under divine command

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that the universe is not random: all origination and dissolution occur from the subtle Unmanifest, governed by the Supreme Lord—pointing the seeker to recognize Shiva (Pati) as the ultimate controller beyond changing phenomena.

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

Since creation arises by the Supreme Lord’s ordinance, Linga-worship becomes a way to worship that very transcendent source through a sacred, accessible form—honoring Shiva as both beyond manifestation and present as its inner ruler.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the Lord of sṛṣṭi and pralaya while mentally repeating the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), cultivating detachment from the cycle of arising and dissolving and steadiness in the Unchanging.