Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 6

शक्त्यादिसृष्टिनिरूपणम् / The Account of Creation Beginning with Śakti

Devanagari script

आनुलोम्यात्तथैतेषां प्रतिलोम्येन संहृतिः । अस्मात्पञ्चपदोद्दिष्टात्परस्स्रष्टा समिष्यते

Transliteration

ānulomyāttathaiteṣāṃ pratilomyena saṃhṛtiḥ | asmātpañcapadoddiṣṭātparassraṣṭā samiṣyate

Translation

Im fortschreitenden Ablauf entfaltet sich ihre Manifestation, und im umgekehrten Ablauf geschieht ihre Rückaufnahme. Aus dieser in fünffacher Form dargelegten Lehre ist der höchste Schöpfer zu erkennen.

Word by Word

• ānulomyāt: from (the state of) conformity/regular order
• ānulomyāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ānulomya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• tathā: thus/so
• tathā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक अव्यय)

• eteṣām: of these
• eteṣām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (gender-contextual)

• pratilomyena: by reverse order/contrary course
• pratilomyena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratilomya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• saṃhṛtiḥ: withdrawal/dissolution
• saṃhṛtiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃhṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• asmāt: from this
• asmāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• pañca-pada-uddiṣṭāt: from what is indicated by five padas
• pañca-pada-uddiṣṭāt: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca + pada + uddiṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक; uddiṣṭa = √diś दिश् धातु, क्त)
• Form: Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; (pañca-padena uddiṣṭaḥ) 'indicated by five terms/steps'

• paraḥ: higher/supreme
• paraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; qualifying sraṣṭā

• sraṣṭā: creator
• sraṣṭā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sraṣṭṛ (प्रातिपदिक; agent noun from √sṛj सृज्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• samiṣyate: will come to be/ensues
• samiṣyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + i (इ धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Ātmanepada, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: cyclic emanation and reabsorption (sṛṣṭi/saṃhāra in ānuloma–pratiloma order)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that the cosmos unfolds in a graded order and returns by reversing that order; by contemplating this process, one recognizes the Supreme Pati (Shiva) as the transcendent source and end of all tattvas, aiding detachment and liberation-oriented insight.

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

The graded manifestation and reabsorption point to a single Supreme Reality behind all forms; in practice, the Linga serves as the Saguna support through which the seeker contemplates the Nirguna Supreme who is the Creator and dissolver of the cosmos.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A meditative practice of anuloma–pratiloma contemplation: mentally trace creation step-by-step from the Supreme to the manifest world, then reverse it back into Shiva, optionally supported by japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to steady awareness in the Supreme.