Shloka 22

सृष्टिपद्धतिवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

रमाशाक्तियुतो वामे सर्व्वरक्षाकरो महान् । चतुर्भुजोऽरविंदाक्षः श्यामश्शंखादिचिह्नभृत्

Transliteration

ramāśāktiyuto vāme sarvvarakṣākaro mahān | caturbhujo'raviṃdākṣaḥ śyāmaśśaṃkhādicihnabhṛt

Translation

Zur Linken ist der große Herr, der vollkommenen Schutz gewährt, begleitet von Ramā (Lakṣmī) und Śakti. Er ist vierarmig, lotosäugig, dunkel von Farbe und trägt die Sinnbilder, beginnend mit der Muschel—so erscheint er in der heiligen Schau als schützende, gnadenvolle Gestalt.

Word by Word

• रमा-शक्ति-युतः: endowed with Ramā and Śakti
• रमा-शक्ति-युतः: विशेषण (Adjectival to implied subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रमा + शक्ति + युत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘युत’ = युज् (धातु) क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), ‘युक्तः’; समासः—रमया शक्त्या च युतः (समाहार-तत्पुरुष/संबन्ध)

• वामे: on the left (side)
• वामे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• सर्व-रक्षा-करः: maker of protection for all
• सर्व-रक्षा-करः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + रक्षा + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—सर्वेषां रक्षा (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + तां करोति इति करः (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• महान्: great
• महान्: विशेषण (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• चतुर्भुजः: four-armed
• चतुर्भुजः: विशेषण (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् + भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः—चत्वारः भुजाः यस्य

• अरविन्दाक्षः: lotus-eyed
• अरविन्दाक्षः: विशेषण (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अरविन्द + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—अरविन्दवत् अक्षिणी यस्य

• श्यामः: dark/blue-hued
• श्यामः: विशेषण (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्याम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• शङ्ख-आदि-चिह्न-भृत्: bearing emblems such as the conch
• शङ्ख-आदि-चिह्न-भृत्: विशेषण (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शङ्ख + आदि + चिह्न + भृत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘भृत्’ = भृ (धातु) क्विप्/कृदन्त ‘bearing’; समासः—शङ्खादीनि चिह्नानि (तत्पुरुष) + तानि भृत् (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vamadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Iconographic description of Viṣṇu with Ramā (Lakṣmī) as a protective cosmic functionary within a Śaiva cosmological vision; not tied to a Jyotirliṅga site.

Significance: Supports integrated worship: recognizing Viṣṇu-Lakṣmī as protectors (rakṣā) while maintaining Śiva as the supreme source in the narrative frame.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Lalita

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Lakshmi
• Shakti

FAQs

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

It highlights a compassionate, saguna manifestation marked by divine emblems and Śakti, emphasizing that divine grace operates as protection (rakṣā) for devotees on the path toward liberation.

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

While Linga worship points to Shiva’s transcendence (nirguṇa), this verse describes a visible, emblem-bearing form used for dhyāna and bhakti—showing how saguna contemplation supports devotion and steadies the mind in Shiva-oriented worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate (dhyāna) on the lotus-eyed, four-armed, protective form with Śakti, and pair it with japa of a Shiva mantra (especially the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as a focused daily practice for inner protection and devotion.