Shloka 41

सृष्टिपद्धतिवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

एकमेव जगच्चक्रं शम्भोश्शक्तिविजृंभितम् । सृष्ट्यादिपंचांवयवं पंचारमिति कथ्यते

Transliteration

ekameva jagaccakraṃ śambhośśaktivijṛṃbhitam | sṛṣṭyādipaṃcāṃvayavaṃ paṃcāramiti kathyate

Translation

This entire wheel of the universe is one alone—an expansive manifestation of Śambhu’s Power (Śakti). Having five constituents beginning with creation, it is therefore called the “five-spoked” (pañcāra) wheel.

Word by Word

• एकम्: one (single)
• एकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण (adjectival)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय

• जगत्-चक्रम्: the wheel of the universe
• जगत्-चक्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक) + cakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative: 'of the world'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शम्भोः: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śambhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• शक्ति-विजृम्भितम्: expanded/unfolded by (His) power
• शक्ति-विजृम्भितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक) + vi√jṛmbh (धातु) → vijṛmbhita (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: तृतीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषभाव (determinative: 'expanded by/through power'); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies जगच्चक्रम्)

• सृष्टि-आदि-पञ्च-अवयवम्: having five parts beginning with creation
• सृष्टि-आदि-पञ्च-अवयवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + pañca (संख्या) + avayava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (determinative): 'having five members beginning with creation'; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणवत् (qualifies जगच्चक्रम्)

• पञ्च-अरम्: five-spoked (wheel)
• पञ्च-अरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañca (संख्या) + ara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (numerical compound: 'five-spoked'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• कथ्यते: is said/is called
• कथ्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kath (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Highlights Śiva-Śakti as the single source of the universe’s cyclic order; supports temple theology where pañcakṛtya is contemplated during daily worship and festival processions.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents the universe as a single ordered “wheel” powered by Śiva’s Śakti, reminding the devotee that all change—creation through dissolution—operates within the Lord’s sovereignty, leading the soul (paśu) toward liberation through right understanding and devotion.

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

The Linga symbolizes the one Supreme Śiva (Pati) who stands as the source and support of the entire cosmic process; worship of Saguna Śiva/Linga helps the devotee contemplate that the fivefold cosmic functions are not random forces but expressions of Śiva through Śakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as the hub of the cosmic wheel and recite the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” contemplating the fivefold divine activity (creation, preservation, dissolution, concealment, grace) as Śiva’s Śakti in action.