Shloka 16

सृष्टिपद्धतिवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

विश्रांत्यर्थं मुनिश्रेष्ठ कर्मणां पाकहेतवे । संहारः कल्पितस्त्रेधा रुद्रेणामिततेजसा

Transliteration

viśrāṃtyarthaṃ muniśreṣṭha karmaṇāṃ pākahetave | saṃhāraḥ kalpitastredhā rudreṇāmitatejasā

Translation

O best of sages, for the sake of repose and for the ripening of actions into their fruits, dissolution (saṃhāra) was ordained in a threefold way by Rudra of immeasurable splendor.

Word by Word

• विश्रान्ति-अर्थम्: for the purpose of rest
• विश्रान्ति-अर्थम्: Prayojana/Hetu (प्रयोजन/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्रान्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/उद्देश्य), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विश्रान्त्याः अर्थः)

• मुनि-श्रेष्ठ: O best of sages
• मुनि-श्रेष्ठ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मुनीनां श्रेष्ठः)

• कर्मणाम्: of actions
• कर्मणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (genitive), बहुवचन

• पाक-हेतवे: for the cause of maturation (ripening)
• पाक-हेतवे: Sampradana/Prayojana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाक (प्रातिपदिक) + हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (dative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पाकस्य हेतुः)

• संहारः: withdrawal/dissolution
• संहारः: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (nominative), एकवचन

• कल्पितः: was devised/arranged
• कल्पितः: Karta-bhava/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कॢप् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि/कर्मणि प्रयोगः; ‘संहारः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• त्रेधा: in three ways
• त्रेधा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रेधा (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• रुद्रेण: by Rudra
• रुद्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (instrumental), एकवचन

• अमित-तेजसा: of immeasurable splendor
• अमित-तेजसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमित (प्रातिपदिक) + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (तेजस्), तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (अमितं तेजः यस्य/अमितं तेजः) — ‘रुद्रेण’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: pralaya as karmic ‘rest’ and maturation (pāka) mechanism

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse frames dissolution (saṃhāra) as Shiva’s compassionate governance: it grants rest to beings and allows karmas to ripen and be exhausted, supporting the soul’s progress toward liberation under Pati (Shiva).

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

Rudra here is Saguna Shiva—the Lord who actively regulates creation, sustenance, and dissolution. Linga-worship contemplates this same Lord as the cosmic axis who withdraws the universe in an ordered way, leading devotees from worldly cycles toward the transcendent.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Rudra as the inner dissolver of impurities—japa of the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with a resolve to let attachments dissolve, supported by simple Shaiva disciplines like vibhuti (tripuṇḍra) and Rudraksha as reminders of saṃhāra and purification.