Shloka 48

सृष्टिपद्धतिवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

उपर्युपरि चान्योन्यमेवं दशगुणाधिकम् । ब्रह्माण्डमिति विज्ञेयं तद्द्विजैर्मुनिनायक

Transliteration

uparyupari cānyonyamevaṃ daśaguṇādhikam | brahmāṇḍamiti vijñeyaṃ taddvijairmunināyaka

Translation

Layer upon layer, each succeeding realm is tenfold greater than the one below. Know this totality as the cosmic egg (Brahmāṇḍa), O leader of sages—so it is understood by the twice-born.

Word by Word

• उपरि: above
• उपरि: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (adverb of place)

• उपरि: above (again)
• उपरि: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति (repetition for emphasis)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• अन्योन्यम्: mutually/one upon another
• अन्योन्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्योन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण; नपुंसक, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; परस्परार्थक (mutually)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक

• दशगुणाधिकम्: tenfold greater
• दशगुणाधिकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश-गुण-अधिक (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (दशगुणेन अधिकम् = tenfold greater)

• ब्रह्माण्डम्: the cosmic egg (Brahmā’s egg)
• ब्रह्माण्डम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म-अण्ड (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः अण्डम्)

• इति: as/thus
• इति: Vacana-prayojaka (उद्धरणचिह्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरणार्थक

• विज्ञेयम्: should be known
• विज्ञेयम्: Vidhi (विधेय/आज्ञार्थ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √ज्ञा (धातु) + वि- (उपसर्ग) ; विज्ञेय (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विधिलिङ्गार्थक-भावः—तव्यत्/अनीयर्-समर्थ ‘gerundive’ (to be known)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; निर्देश्य (that)

• द्विजैः: by the twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विजैः: Karana/Agent-in-passive (करण/कर्तृ-तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन

• मुनिनायक: O leader of sages
• मुनिनायक: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि-नायक (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मुनीनां नायकः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Brahmanda

FAQs

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

It frames the universe as a graded, layered order where each higher level is vaster, encouraging detachment from finite worlds and turning the seeker toward Pati (Shiva), who transcends the Brahmāṇḍa.

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

By defining the limits of the Brahmāṇḍa, the text implicitly points to Shiva as the supreme reality beyond cosmic measures; Linga-worship focuses the mind on that transcendent Lord who pervades and surpasses all layers.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate with the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) on Shiva as both immanent in all cosmic layers and beyond them, cultivating vairāgya (dispassion) toward progressively subtler realms.