Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 49

शिवतत्त्ववर्णनम् (Śiva-tattva-varṇana) — “Description/Exposition of the Principle of Śiva”

Devanagari script

सृष्टिस्थितिलयानां हि कार्यं तासां क्रमाद्ध्रुवम् । एतस्याः प्रकृत्तेरंशा मत्प्रियायास्सुरौत्तम

Transliteration

sṛṣṭisthitilayānāṃ hi kāryaṃ tāsāṃ kramāddhruvam | etasyāḥ prakṛtteraṃśā matpriyāyāssurauttama

Translation

Schöpfung, Erhaltung und Auflösung sind wahrlich ihre zugewiesenen Werke, gewiss der Reihenfolge nach vollzogen. O Bester der Götter, Meine geliebte Göttin ist ein Anteil dieser Prakṛti (Urnatur).

Word by Word

• sṛṣṭi-sthiti-layānām: of creation, maintenance, and dissolution
• sṛṣṭi-sthiti-layānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + sthiti (प्रातिपदिक) + laya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (सृष्टिश्च स्थितिश्च लयश्च), पुं/स्त्री-समाहारार्थे नपुंसकवत्; षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• hi: indeed; for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/निपात), हेत्वर्थ/प्रमाणार्थ

• kāryam: the function; the task
• kāryam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• tāsām: of those (powers/energies)
• tāsām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• kramāt: in sequence; in due order
• kramāt: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Order)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे 'क्रमात्' = 'in due order'

• dhruvam: certain; fixed
• dhruvam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhruva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण (kāryam इति)

• etasyāḥ: of this (Prakṛti)
• etasyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• prakṛteḥ: of Prakṛti; of nature
• prakṛteḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prakṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• aṃśāḥ: parts; portions
• aṃśāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• mat-priyāyāḥ: of my beloved (consort)
• mat-priyāyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mat (अस्मद्-षष्ठी एकवचनार्थक समासपूर्वपद) + priyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मम प्रिया), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• sura-uttama: O best of gods
• sura-uttama: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (उत्तमः सुरः), पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: sarga (ordered emanation of functions: sṛṣṭi–sthiti–laya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Prakriti
• Devi (Shiva's beloved)

FAQs

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

It frames the cosmos as an ordered process—creation, preservation, and dissolution—operating through Prakṛti, while Shiva remains the conscious Lord (Pati) who knows and governs the process and honors Shakti as integral to manifestation.

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

Linga worship centers on Shiva as the transcendent ground beyond sṛṣṭi-sthiti-laya, while also acknowledging Saguna Shiva as the Lord who, together with Shakti (aṃśa of Prakṛti), enables the world-process to proceed in proper order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to meditate on Shiva as the changeless witness of the three cosmic functions, and to worship Shiva with devotion while honoring Shakti—often done through japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and contemplative reflection on sṛṣṭi-sthiti-laya.