Shloka 44

सृष्टिपद्धतिवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

शक्तिकार्यमिदं चक्रं हिरण्यज्योतिराश्रितम् । सलिलेनावृतमिदं सलिलं वह्निनावृतम्

Transliteration

śaktikāryamidaṃ cakraṃ hiraṇyajyotirāśritam | salilenāvṛtamidaṃ salilaṃ vahnināvṛtam

Translation

This cosmic wheel—an operation of Śakti—abides in a golden radiance. It is veiled by water, and that very water is, in turn, veiled by fire.

Word by Word

• शक्ति-कार्यम्: the effect of power
• शक्ति-कार्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शक्तेः कार्यम् = effect/product of power)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• चक्रम्: wheel/circle (cosmic sphere)
• चक्रम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हिरण्य-ज्योतिः-आश्रितम्: resting on golden light
• हिरण्य-ज्योतिः-आश्रितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हिरण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रित (कृदन्त; √श्रि धातु, आ-उपसर्ग)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) ‘आश्रित’; तत्पुरुषः (हिरण्यज्योतिषि आश्रितम् = resting on golden light)

• सलिलेन: by water
• सलिलेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सलिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आवृतम्: covered
• आवृतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आवृत (कृदन्त; √वृ धातु, आ-उपसर्ग)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) ‘covered/enveloped’ (qualifies इदम्/चक्रम्)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सलिलम्: water
• सलिलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सलिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वह्निना: by fire
• वह्निना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आवृतम्: covered
• आवृतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आवृत (कृदन्त; √वृ धातु, आ-उपसर्ग)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) (qualifies सलिलम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: graded veiling of cosmic principles (āvaraṇa-krama)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti

FAQs

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

It presents the universe as a Śakti-driven cycle appearing within luminous consciousness, yet experienced through successive coverings (āvaraṇa). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, the soul (paśu) perceives reality through veils (pāśa), while Śiva (Pati) is the light that remains unbound.

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

The Linga symbolizes the radiant ground (jyoti) in which all cycles arise. Worship of Saguna Śiva trains the mind to move from the layered elements and their coverings toward the inner recognition of Śiva as the steady, self-luminous reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is jyoti-dhyāna (meditation on inner light) while repeating the Panchākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—to transcend elemental identifications. If observing Shaiva vrata, applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) can serve as a reminder that the coverings are transient compared to Śiva’s radiance.