Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 8

गणेशोत्पत्ति-प्रसङ्गः / Episode on the Origin of Gaṇeśa (Śvetakalpa Account)

Devanagari script

तल्लीलयाखिलं विश्वं सृज्यते पाल्यते तथा । विनाश्यते मुनिश्रेष्ठ प्रस्तुतं शृणु चादरात्

Transliteration

tallīlayākhilaṃ viśvaṃ sṛjyate pālyate tathā | vināśyate muniśreṣṭha prastutaṃ śṛṇu cādarāt

Translation

Allein durch Seine göttliche Līlā wird dieses ganze Universum erschaffen, erhalten und auch wieder aufgelöst. O Bester der Weisen, höre ehrfürchtig, was nun dargelegt wird.

Word by Word

• तत्: by that
• तत्: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण

• लीलया: by (his) play
• लीलया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• अखिलम्: entire
• अखिलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• विश्वम्: the universe
• विश्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन

• सृज्यते: is created
• सृज्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), आत्मनेपद

• पाल्यते: is protected, is maintained
• पाल्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पाल् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि (passive), आत्मनेपद

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• विनाश्यते: is destroyed
• विनाश्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नश् (धातु; वि-√नश्)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि (passive), आत्मनेपद

• मुनिश्रेष्ठ: O best of sages
• मुनिश्रेष्ठ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; समासः—मुनिषु श्रेष्ठः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• प्रस्तुतम्: the present (topic)
• प्रस्तुतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रस्तुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (elliptically ‘this topic’)

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• आदरात्: with respect, attentively
• आदरात्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; पञ्चमी-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषण (ablative-form adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: cyclic creation–maintenance–dissolution (saṃsāra-pravāha)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It affirms Shiva (Pati) as the sovereign Lord whose will and līlā govern sṛṣṭi (creation), sthiti (sustenance), and laya (dissolution), guiding the seeker to surrender and seek liberation beyond changing phenomena.

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

The Linga is worshipped as the visible sign of the transcendent Lord who performs the cosmic functions; devotion to Saguna Shiva through the Linga leads the mind to recognize His Nirguna supremacy behind all arising and passing.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Listen and contemplate with reverence (ādara) while japa of the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” is maintained, fixing awareness on Shiva as the one power behind creation, preservation, and dissolution.