Shloka 4

शिवस्यार्द्धनारीनरावतारवर्णनम्

Description of Shiva’s Ardhanārī-nara Manifestation

Devanagari script

नारीणां कुलमीशानान्निर्गतं न पुरा यतः । ततो मैथुनजां सृष्टिं कर्तुं शेके न पद्मभूः

Transliteration

nārīṇāṃ kulamīśānānnirgataṃ na purā yataḥ | tato maithunajāṃ sṛṣṭiṃ kartuṃ śeke na padmabhūḥ

Translation

Since, in the beginning, the lineage of women had not yet proceeded forth from Īśāna (Lord Śiva), therefore Padmabhū (Brahmā, the Lotus-born) was unable to carry out creation through sexual union.

Word by Word

• नारीणाम्: of women
• नारीणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• कुलम्: clan/lineage
• कुलम्: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ईशानात्: from Īśāna (Śiva)
• ईशानात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन

• निर्गतम्: issued forth/produced
• निर्गतम्: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्-√गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘कुलम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण-काले)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• यतः: since/because
• यतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: यतः-शब्दः (relative indeclinable), हेत्वर्थे ‘because/since’

• ततः: therefore
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: ततः-शब्दः (consequently/therefore)

• मैथुन-जाम्: born of sexual union
• मैथुन-जाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मैथुन (प्रातिपदिक) + जा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष/षष्ठीभावः (‘मैथुनात् जाता’) विशेषणम् ‘सृष्टिम्’

• सृष्टिम्: creation
• सृष्टिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कर्तुम्: to do/make
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त infinitive (कर्तुम्); प्रयोजनार्थे

• शेके: was able
• शेके: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शक् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परिपूर्ण/परोक्षभूत; perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• पद्मभूः: Padmabhū (Brahmā)
• पद्मभूः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक) + भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (‘पद्मे भवति’ = Brahmā)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purāṇic account to the sages, with the verse describing Brahmā’s limitation without Śiva’s śakti)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Śivā

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: early creation phase (sarga) impeded due to absence of feminine lineage/śakti-manifestation

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It teaches that creative power (śakti) ultimately proceeds from Īśāna (Śiva); without that divine empowerment, even Brahmā cannot initiate the ordinary, dualistic process of procreation—highlighting Śiva as Pati, the supreme source behind manifestation.

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

The Liṅga symbolizes Śiva as the transcendent cause (nirguṇa ground) and also the immanent Lord (saguṇa) who grants śakti for creation; this verse points to that dependence of cosmic functions on Śiva’s grace, which Liṅga worship ritually affirms.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to seek Śiva’s śakti through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and Liṅga-pūjā with bhasma (tripuṇḍra) as a sign of surrender—recognizing that all accomplishment follows from Śiva’s anugraha (grace).