Shloka 18

हंस-वराह-रूपग्रहण-कारणम्

The Reason for Assuming the Swan and Boar Forms

Devanagari script

इति प्रश्नोत्तरं दत्तं प्रस्तुतं शृणु नारद । स्मृत्वा शिवपदांभोजं वक्ष्ये सृष्टिविधिं मुने

Transliteration

iti praśnottaraṃ dattaṃ prastutaṃ śṛṇu nārada | smṛtvā śivapadāṃbhojaṃ vakṣye sṛṣṭividhiṃ mune

Translation

Thus, having given the question and its answer, now listen to what follows, O Nārada. Remembering the lotus-feet of Śiva, I shall declare to you, O sage, the method by which creation unfolds.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक/उद्धरणसूचक (quotative/thus)

• praśna-uttaram: question and answer (Q&A)
• praśna-uttaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praśna (प्रातिपदिक) + uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन (Acc./Nom. sg.; here as object), समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective dvandva)

• dattam: given
• dattam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (दा) (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगार्थं ‘given’

• prastutam: presented/introduced
• prastutam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-stuta (प्रस्तुत) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• śṛṇu: hear
• śṛṇu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (श्रु) (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• nārada: O Nārada
• nārada: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (नारद) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन

• smṛtvā: having remembered
• smṛtvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √smṛ (स्मृ) (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal)

• śiva-pada-ambhojam: Śiva’s lotus-feet
• śiva-pada-ambhojam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + pada (प्रातिपदिक) + ambhoja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘शिवस्य पदाम्भोजम्’

• vakṣye: I shall tell
• vakṣye: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच्) (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• sṛṣṭi-vidhim: the method/process of creation
• sṛṣṭi-vidhim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘सृष्टेः विधिम्’

• mune: O sage
• mune: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (मुनि) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a jyotirliṅga episode; the verse functions as a narrative hinge where Brahmā begins sṛṣṭi-krama after invoking Śiva’s lotus-feet.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: śivapadāṃbhojaṃ

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Commencement of sṛṣṭi-vidhi exposition (didactic cosmogony)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Narada

FAQs

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

It establishes that true understanding of creation (sṛṣṭi) begins with Śiva-smaraṇa—remembrance of Śiva’s lotus-feet—showing devotion and grace as the gateway to sacred knowledge in a Shaiva Siddhanta spirit.

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

By invoking Śiva’s lotus-feet before explaining cosmology, the text emphasizes approaching doctrine through reverence to Saguna Śiva (worshipful form), which in practice includes Linga-bhakti and contemplative remembrance as a support for grasping higher truths.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Begin study or recitation with Śiva-smaraṇa: mentally bow to Śiva’s lotus-feet, then proceed—optionally accompanied by Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) as a preparatory focus.