Shloka 40
तं दृष्ट्वा मे सिसृक्षोश्च ज्ञात्वा साधकमात्मनः । सर्गोऽवर्तत दुःखाढ्यस्तिर्यक्स्रोता न साधकः
taṃ dṛṣṭvā me sisṛkṣośca jñātvā sādhakamātmanaḥ | sargo'vartata duḥkhāḍhyastiryaksrotā na sādhakaḥ
Seeing him, and knowing that I was intent on creation and that he could accomplish my purpose, the process of creation began to proceed; yet it became filled with sorrow, flowing downward in a tamas-bound current, and was not conducive to spiritual accomplishment.
Brahma (as narrator within the Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa account, relayed in the Purāṇic discourse)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Tatpuruṣa
Cosmic Event: Tāmasa/tiryaksrotas phase of sṛṣṭi: a downward/sideways current producing sorrow-laden, spiritually non-conducive embodiment.
FAQs
It highlights that creation, when dominated by a downward tamasic current, naturally becomes sorrow-laden and obstructs sādhana; liberation requires turning toward the higher, Shiva-oriented current of consciousness.
When the world-flow is not sādhaka (not supportive of practice), devotion to Saguna Shiva—especially Linga-worship—becomes the corrective means to redirect the mind from tamas toward purity, grace, and liberation.
The practical takeaway is to counter the downward current through Shiva-sādhana such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), wearing Rudrākṣa, and applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) with disciplined worship.