Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 73
सर्गविभागवर्णनम्
Classification of Creation: the Nine Sargas and the Streams of Beings
तस्मिन् ब्रह्मवने ऽव्यक्तो ब्रह्मा चरति सर्ववित् । अव्यक्तबीजप्रभव ईश्वरानुग्रहे स्थितः । बुद्धिस्कंधमहाशाख इन्द्रियांतरकोटरः । महाभूतप्रमाणश्च विशेषामलपल्लवः
tasmin brahmavane 'vyakto brahmā carati sarvavit | avyaktabījaprabhava īśvarānugrahe sthitaḥ | buddhiskaṃdhamahāśākha indriyāṃtarakoṭaraḥ | mahābhūtapramāṇaśca viśeṣāmalapallavaḥ
সেই ব্রহ্মবনে সর্বজ্ঞ ব্রহ্মা অব্যক্তরূপে বিচরণ করেন। অব্যক্ত-বীজ থেকে উৎপন্ন হয়ে তিনি কেবল ঈশ্বরের অনুগ্রহে স্থিত। বুদ্ধি তাঁর কাণ্ড, বিকারসমূহ মহাশাখা; ইন্দ্রিয়ের অন্তর্গত কোটরসমূহ তাঁর অন্তর্লীন গহ্বর। মহাভূত তাঁর পরিমাপ, আর নির্মল বিশেষসমূহ তাঁর পল্লব।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Role: teaching
FAQs
It presents creation as a symbolic “tree” of tattvas—buddhi, senses, and elements—showing that the manifest world proceeds from the Unmanifest and ultimately stands by Īśvara’s grace; liberation comes by discerning Pati (Shiva) as transcending these evolutes.
By describing the cosmos as an evolute dependent on the Lord’s anugraha, it supports Linga-worship as a concrete focus for the devotee to approach Saguna Shiva, while remembering that Shiva also surpasses the unmanifest and manifest principles.
A contemplative practice of tattva-viveka (discrimination): while repeating the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), meditate that buddhi, senses, and elements are branches of manifestation, and seek refuge in Shiva as Pati—the source and liberator beyond them.