Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 33

सृष्टिक्रमवर्णनम् / Description of the Sequence of Creation

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मांडं सकलं व्याप्तं शून्यं नैव कदाचन । एवं सृष्टिः कृता सम्यग्ब्रह्मणा शंभुशासनात्

Transliteration

brahmāṃḍaṃ sakalaṃ vyāptaṃ śūnyaṃ naiva kadācana | evaṃ sṛṣṭiḥ kṛtā samyagbrahmaṇā śaṃbhuśāsanāt

Translation

Das gesamte Brahmāṇḍa, das kosmische Ei, wurde vollständig durchdrungen—zu keiner Zeit war es leer. So vollbrachte Brahmā die Schöpfung in rechter und vollkommener Ordnung, gemäß dem Gebot Śambhus (des Herrn Śiva).

Word by Word

• ब्रह्म-अण्डम्: the cosmic egg, universe
• ब्रह्म-अण्डम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Acc), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः अण्डम्)

• सकलम्: entire, whole
• सकलम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of brahmāṇḍam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Acc), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• व्याप्तम्: pervaded
• व्याप्तम्: विधेय (Predicate; passive participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्याप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (PPP/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; कर्मणि प्रयोगे विधेय-विशेषणम्

• शून्यम्: empty
• शून्यम्: विधेय (Predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शून्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; विधेय-विशेषणम्

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्ययम्

• एव: at all
• एव: अवधारण (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्ययम्

• कदाचन: ever, at any time
• कदाचन: कालाधिकरण (Time adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचन (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्ययम् (temporal adverb)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्ययम्

• सृष्टिः: creation
• सृष्टिः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/Nom), एकवचनम्

• कृता: was made, was done
• कृता: विधेय (Predicate; ‘was done’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (PPP/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/Nom), एकवचनम्; सृष्टिः इत्यस्य विधेयम्

• सम्यक्: properly, completely
• सम्यक्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb: properly)

• ब्रह्मणा: by Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणा: कर्ता (कर्तृ-करण; agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचनम्

• शम्भु-शासनात्: from Śambhu’s command
• शम्भु-शासनात्: हेतु/अपादान (Cause/source: from the command)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक) + शासन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः (5th/Ablative), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शम्भोः शासनम्)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Rudra Saṃhitā account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It establishes Śiva (Śambhu) as the supreme governor (Pati) whose will orders creation, while Brahmā functions as the empowered agent; the universe is not a meaningless void but pervaded by divine order and purpose.

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

By declaring creation proceeds from Śiva’s śāsana (command), it supports Saguna worship—Śiva as the personal Lord who rules and blesses—while the Liṅga signifies that supreme, all-pervading Lord beyond emptiness and disorder.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is śaraṇāgati (surrender) expressed through japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and contemplation that all worlds are pervaded by Śiva’s ordinance, aligning one’s actions with dharma.