Shloka 17

Svagati-varṇana

Description of the Supreme State / One’s True Attainment

Devanagari script

महेश्वरभुजोत्सृष्टं त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम् । निर्ददाह द्रुतं कृत्स्नं निमेषार्द्धान्न संशयः

Transliteration

maheśvarabhujotsṛṣṭaṃ trailokyaṃ sacarācaram | nirdadāha drutaṃ kṛtsnaṃ nimeṣārddhānna saṃśayaḥ

Translation

The entire threefold world—moving and unmoving—once released from Mahādeva’s arm, was swiftly burned up in its entirety, in but half a blink; of this there is no doubt.

Word by Word

• महेश्वर: Maheshvara (Śiva)
• महेश्वर: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, समासपूर्वपद (as compound member)

• भुज: arm
• भुज: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, समासपूर्वपद

• उत्सृष्टम्: released/shot forth (by Śiva’s arm)
• उत्सृष्टम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्-सृज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः: महेश्वर-भुज-उत्सृष्टम् (तत्पुरुषः: ‘महेश्वरस्य भुजेन उत्सृष्टम्’—released by Maheshvara’s arm)

• त्रैलोक्यम्: the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि-लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः

• सचराचरम्: with moving and unmoving beings
• सचराचरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-चर-अचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः; विशेषण (of त्रैलोक्यम्)

• निर्ददाह: burned up completely
• निर्ददाह: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्-दह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• द्रुतम्: quickly
• द्रुतम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्रुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) ‘शीघ्रम्’

• कृत्स्नम्: entire, whole
• कृत्स्नम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत्स्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of त्रैलोक्यम्)

• निमेष: blink (of an eye)
• निमेष: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निमेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, समासपूर्वपद

• अर्द्धात्: from (within) half a blink
• अर्द्धात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्द्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/ablative), एकवचन; समासः: निमेष-अर्द्ध (तत्पुरुषः: half of a blink)

• न: no/not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Kālāntaka

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga origin; the ‘released from Mahādeva’s arm’ motif evokes Śiva’s effortless agency—worlds burn as a mere discharge of His power.

Significance: Instills vairāgya and surrender: all worlds are contingent and can be consumed instantly; refuge is only in Pati, not in pāśa-bound structures.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: pralaya-like conflagration (world-burning)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Maheshvara)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes Shiva as Pati—the supreme Lord whose power of dissolution is instantaneous, teaching that all realms and beings are impermanent and that refuge in Shiva leads beyond fear of destruction toward liberation.

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

The verse highlights Shiva’s sovereign Shakti in manifest form (Saguna)—the Lord who acts within time as creator and dissolver—while Linga worship trains the devotee to see this cosmic power as rooted in the transcendent, formless reality symbolized by the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with contemplation on impermanence, supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudraksha as reminders of Shiva’s lordship over birth, change, and dissolution.