Shloka 15
शिवस्यार्द्धनारीनरावतारवर्णनम्
Description of Shiva’s Ardhanārī-nara Manifestation
ब्रह्मोवाच । देवदेवेन सृष्टोहमादौ त्वत्पतिना शिवे । प्रजाः सर्वा नियुक्ताश्च शंभुना परमात्मना
brahmovāca | devadevena sṛṣṭohamādau tvatpatinā śive | prajāḥ sarvā niyuktāśca śaṃbhunā paramātmanā
Brahmā said: “O Śivā, in the beginning I was created by the God of gods—Śambhu, the Supreme Self, your Lord. And by that same Supreme Śambhu all beings were duly appointed to their respective functions and orders.”
Brahma
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
Cosmic Event: beginning-of-creation commissioning: Brahmā’s origination and appointment (niyoga) of beings by the Supreme
FAQs
The verse establishes Śiva (Śambhu) as Paramātmā and Devadeva—the ultimate source even of Brahmā—affirming the Shaiva Siddhanta vision of Pati (the Lord) as the supreme governor who ordains the cosmic order and the roles of all beings.
By praising Śambhu as the personal Lord who creates and appoints all beings, the verse supports Saguna devotion—approaching Śiva as the accessible Supreme through worship (including Liṅga worship), while recognizing Him as the inner Self beyond all.
A practical takeaway is daily Śiva-smaraṇa (remembrance) with the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offered with a sense of niyoga (duty) and surrender—seeing one’s life-role as appointed by Śambhu and returning actions to Him.