Shloka 10

सृष्टिपद्धतिवर्णनम्

Exposition of the Supreme Method of Creation and the Tirodhāna-Cakra

Devanagari script

एतदेव पदं प्राप्यं महेशपदसेविनाम् । माहेश्वराणां सालोक्यक्रमादेव विमुक्तिदम्

Transliteration

etadeva padaṃ prāpyaṃ maheśapadasevinām | māheśvarāṇāṃ sālokyakramādeva vimuktidam

Translation

Nur dieser Zustand ist von denen zu erlangen, die den Füßen (der höchsten Stätte) Maheshas dienen. Den Verehrern Maheshvaras wird die Befreiung durch die Stufenfolge gewährt, die mit sālokya—dem Verweilen in Seiner Welt—beginnt und weiterführt.

Word by Word

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of पदम्)

• एव: indeed; only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• पदम्: state; abode
• पदम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्राप्यम्: to be attained
• प्राप्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive: to be attained); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of पदम्)

• महेश-पद-सेविनाम्: of the servants of Maheśa’s abode/feet
• महेश-पद-सेविनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक) + सेविन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (महेशस्य पदं सेवते ये); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• माहेश्वराणाम्: of the Māheśvaras (devotees of Maheśvara)
• माहेश्वराणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• सालोक्य-क्रमात्: from the sequence of sālokya (co-abode)
• सालोक्य-क्रमात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सालोक्य (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (सालोक्यस्य क्रमः); पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• विमुक्ति-दम्: giving liberation
• विमुक्ति-दम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (विमुक्तिं ददाति इति); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of पदम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames liberation as a graded ascent (sālokya etc.) for Māheśvaras; supports the pilgrimage ethos of approaching Śiva’s abode/world as a step toward mokṣa.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Mahesha/Maheshvara)

FAQs

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

It teaches that steadfast service to Mahesha (Pati) culminates in the highest state, with liberation unfolding through recognized devotional stages beginning with sālokya—nearness and belonging to Shiva’s realm.

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

Serving Mahesha’s ‘feet’ is practically expressed through Saguna Shiva worship—especially Linga-sevā with mantra and devotion—by which the devotee gains Shiva’s grace and progresses toward liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular Shiva-pūjā and japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), done with devotion and purity (often with bhasma and rudrākṣa in Shaiva practice), is the implied discipline of ‘serving Mahesha’s station.’