Shloka 7

Viśveśvara-māhātmya and the Nirguṇa–Saguṇa Emergence of Śiva (Śakti–Puruṣa/Prakṛti Discourse)

Devanagari script

महासंशयमापन्नौ प्रकृतिः पुरुषश्च तौ । तदा वाणी समुत्पन्ना निर्गुणात्परमात्मनः । तपश्चैव प्रकर्तव्यं ततस्सृष्टिरनुत्तमा

Transliteration

mahāsaṃśayamāpannau prakṛtiḥ puruṣaśca tau | tadā vāṇī samutpannā nirguṇātparamātmanaḥ | tapaścaiva prakartavyaṃ tatassṛṣṭiranuttamā

Translation

Prakṛti and Puruṣa, both fallen into great doubt, then heard a divine Voice arising from the Nirguṇa Supreme Self: “Austerity must indeed be undertaken; from that, the unsurpassed creation will come forth.”

Word by Word

महासंशयम्great doubt

आपन्नौhaving fallen into / having reached

प्रकृतिःPrakṛti (Nature)

पुरुषःPuruṣa (Person/Spirit)

चand

तौthose two

तदाthen

वाणीa voice

समुत्पन्नाarose/was produced

निर्गुणात्from the attributeless

परमात्मनःfrom the Supreme Self

तपःausterity

चand

एवindeed

प्रकर्तव्यम्must be done

ततःthereafter

सृष्टिःcreation

अनुत्तमाunsurpassed

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purāṇic account to the sages, with the ‘divine Voice’ identified as the command of the Nirguṇa Paramātman/Shiva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Cosmogonic instruction: Prakṛti and Puruṣa, confused at the threshold of manifestation, receive the Lord’s command to perform tapas, from which ordered creation proceeds.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: tapaścaiva prakartavyaṃ tataḥ sṛṣṭir anuttamā

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: cosmogonic emergence: transition from undifferentiated nirguṇa source to ordered sṛṣṭi via tapas

Characters & Entities

Paramatman (Nirguna Shiva)

Prakriti

Purusha

FAQs

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

It teaches that when the principles of consciousness (Puruṣa) and nature (Prakṛti) are confused, resolution comes from the Nirguṇa Supreme—Shiva as Paramātman—who directs them toward tapas (inner discipline). In Shaiva understanding, creation and liberation both proceed from Shiva’s grace and command, not from mere mechanical evolution.

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

The verse highlights Nirguṇa Shiva as the ultimate source, while the ‘Voice’ becomes knowable to devotees through Saguna forms—classically symbolized by the Śiva-liṅga. Linga worship trains the mind toward the formless Supreme by offering form, mantra, and devotion as a bridge from Saguna to Nirguṇa realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The direct instruction is tapas—practical austerity such as disciplined japa (especially the Panchakshara, ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’), meditation, vrata observance, and purity of conduct. As supportive Shaiva aids, one may apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and use Rudrākṣa during mantra-japa to steady the mind in Shiva-oriented sādhanā.