Shloka 23
हंस-वराह-रूपग्रहण-कारणम्
The Reason for Assuming the Swan and Boar Forms
अहं स्मृत्वा शिवं तत्र विष्णुं वै सृष्टिकाम्यया । पूर्वं सृष्टं जलं यच्च तत्रांजलिमुदाक्षिपम्
ahaṃ smṛtvā śivaṃ tatra viṣṇuṃ vai sṛṣṭikāmyayā | pūrvaṃ sṛṣṭaṃ jalaṃ yacca tatrāṃjalimudākṣipam
Desiring creation, I there remembered Lord Śiva and indeed Viṣṇu; and taking up in my joined palms the water that had been created first, I lifted it up there.
Brahmā
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Role: creative
Cosmic Event: Primordial waters as first created principle in the sṛṣṭi sequence; Brahmā initiates secondary creation after remembrance (smaraṇa) of higher deities
FAQs
It shows that even Brahmā’s creative power proceeds through remembrance (smaraṇa) of Śiva—the supreme Pati—indicating that creation is successful when aligned with Śiva’s will and grace.
The act of remembering Śiva at the very start of creation reflects Saguna devotion: the devotee turns the mind to Śiva’s manifest lordship before undertaking any sacred act, just as Linga-worship begins with dhyāna and invocation.
Practice śiva-smaraṇa (remembrance of Śiva) before beginning any work; in worship, begin with dhyāna and jala-āñjali (offering/holding sanctified water) as a mindful preparation, ideally accompanied by the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”