Shloka 12

कामप्रादुर्भावः — The Manifestation/Arising of Kāma

Devanagari script

पुरा यदा शिवो देवो निर्गुणो निर्विकल्पकः । अरूपश्शक्तिरहितश्चिन्मात्रस्सदसत्परः

Transliteration

purā yadā śivo devo nirguṇo nirvikalpakaḥ | arūpaśśaktirahitaścinmātrassadasatparaḥ

Translation

In the beginning, when Lord Śiva was without attributes and free from all differentiation—formless, without manifest power, pure consciousness alone—He transcended both being and non-being.

Word by Word

• purā: formerly/once
• purā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• yadā: when
• yadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक (relative adverb): 'when'

• śivaḥ: Śiva
• śivaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• devaḥ: the god
• devaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; apposition to śivaḥ

• nirguṇaḥ: without qualities
• nirguṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष (निर् + गुण); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• nirvikalpakaḥ: free from conceptual distinctions
• nirvikalpakaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-vikalpaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष (निर् + विकल्पक); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• arūpaḥ: formless
• arūpaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नञ्-तत्पुरुष (अ + रूप); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• śakti-rahitaḥ: devoid of power (śakti)
• śakti-rahitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक) + rahita (कृत्/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (instrumental/association sense: 'devoid of śakti'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• cit-mātraḥ: pure consciousness alone
• cit-mātraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cit (प्रातिपदिक) + mātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास ('mere consciousness'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• sat-asat-paraḥ: beyond being and non-being
• sat-asat-paraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + asat (प्रातिपदिक) + para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: sat+asat द्वन्द्व-पूर्वपद + para (तत्पुरुष: 'beyond'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: pre-creation (ādi-kāla) state; unmanifest before sṛṣṭi

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It points to Śiva as the supreme Pati who, prior to manifestation, is nirguṇa and nirvikalpa—pure consciousness beyond all categories—indicating that liberation culminates in realizing this transcendent reality.

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

By describing the unmanifest Nirguṇa Śiva, the verse implicitly sets the ground for why devotees use saguna supports like the Liṅga: the formless Absolute is approached through a holy symbol and devotional practice without reducing His transcendence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A nirvikalpa-oriented meditation is suggested—resting attention in pure awareness (cinmātra) while repeating the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” using vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as aids to steadiness and Śiva-smaraṇa.