Shloka 13

देवर्षि-प्रश्नः तथा असुर-वध-हेतुनिवेदनम् | The Devas’ Petition and the Cause for Slaying Asuras

Devanagari script

सृष्टिस्थित्यंतकर्माणि न कार्याणि यदा तदा । शरीरभेदश्चास्माकं मायायाश्च न युज्यते

Transliteration

sṛṣṭisthityaṃtakarmāṇi na kāryāṇi yadā tadā | śarīrabhedaścāsmākaṃ māyāyāśca na yujyate

Translation

At that time, the functions of creation, preservation, and dissolution are not to be carried out. Nor is any distinction of bodies appropriate for us, and not for Māyā either—since in truth such difference does not apply.

Word by Word

• सृष्टि-स्थिति-अन्त-कर्माणि: acts of creation, maintenance, and dissolution
• सृष्टि-स्थिति-अन्त-कर्माणि: कर्ता/कर्म (Subject/Object depending on ellipsis)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि-स्थिति-अन्त-कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; सृष्टि + स्थिति + अन्त + कर्मन्)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व-समास (copulative: creation, maintenance, and dissolution-actions)

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• कार्याणि: to be done / required
• कार्याणि: विधेय (Predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ (धातु) + ण्यत्)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); विधेय-विशेषण (predicative: 'to be done/necessary')

• यदा: when
• यदा: कालाधिकरण (Temporal adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-सम्बन्धबोधक-अव्यय (correlative: when)

• तदा: then
• तदा: कालाधिकरण (Temporal adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-सम्बन्धबोधक-अव्यय (correlative: then)

• शरीर-भेदः: difference of bodies
• शरीर-भेदः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर-भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); तत्पुरुष-समास (difference of bodies)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• अस्माकम्: of us
• अस्माकम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (Plural), सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• मायायाः: of Māyā
• मायायाः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• युज्यते: is fitting / is possible
• युज्यते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √युज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः (passive/impersonal sense: 'is fitting/possible')

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: mahapralaya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Maya

FAQs

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

The verse points to Shiva’s transcendence: beyond the three cosmic operations (sṛṣṭi–sthiti–saṃhāra) and beyond all bodily differentiation. From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, it emphasizes Pati (Shiva) as untouched by Māyā and therefore the ultimate refuge for liberation.

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

Linga worship trains the mind to see Shiva as the formless ground of all forms. Even when approached as Saguna (with attributes) in ritual, the devotee is led toward the understanding expressed here: Shiva is not limited by body, change, or Māyā, while still graciously manifesting for devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as beyond Māyā while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offering mental worship to the Linga with the intent of dissolving body-identification; if practiced ritually, support it with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and steady japa.