Shloka 20

हंस-वराह-रूपग्रहण-कारणम्

The Reason for Assuming the Swan and Boar Forms

Devanagari script

नमस्कृत्य तदा शंभुं ज्ञानं प्राप्य हरेस्तदा । आनंदं परमं गत्वा सृष्टिं कर्तुं मनो दधे

Transliteration

namaskṛtya tadā śaṃbhuṃ jñānaṃ prāpya harestadā | ānaṃdaṃ paramaṃ gatvā sṛṣṭiṃ kartuṃ mano dadhe

Translation

Then, having bowed to Śambhu and received divine knowledge from Hari (Viṣṇu), he attained supreme bliss; thereafter he set his mind on carrying out the work of creation.

Word by Word

• namaskṛtya: having saluted
• namaskṛtya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: namas-√kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यबन्त), from ‘namas’ + √kṛ; prior action ‘having saluted’

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb of time (कालवाचक अव्यय)

• śambhum: Śambhu (Śiva)
• śambhum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śambhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• jñānam: knowledge
• jñānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• prāpya: having obtained
• prāpya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√āp (आप् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यबन्त), from pra + √āp; prior action

• hareḥ: of Hari (Viṣṇu)
• hareḥ: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb of time

• ānandam: bliss, joy
• ānandam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ānanda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying ‘ānandam’

• gatvā: having reached/attained
• gatvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), from √gam; prior action

• sṛṣṭim: creation
• sṛṣṭim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• kartum: to do, to make
• kartum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), from √kṛ; purpose

• manaḥ: mind
• manaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; internal object with √dhā (to set one’s mind)

• dadhe: set/placed (his mind)
• dadhe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhā (धा धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; ātmanepada; from √dhā; idiom ‘mano dadhe’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Rudrasaṃhitā account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It presents creation as arising only after reverent surrender to Śambhu and the dawning of true jñāna, culminating in paramānanda—implying that right knowledge and devotion are the inner cause that enables righteous action in the cosmos.

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

By highlighting namaskāra to Śambhu before initiating creation, the verse supports Saguna devotion—approaching Shiva as the accessible, auspicious Lord (often worshiped as the Liṅga) whose grace and order underlie all manifestation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to begin all undertakings with Śiva-namaskāra and jñāna-oriented remembrance—practically expressed through daily Liṅga-pūjā, mantra-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and contemplative focus on Shiva as the source of auspiciousness.