Shloka 52

Devanagari script

तपसा सृज्यते विश्वं ब्रह्मा विश्वं विनाश्रमम् । पाति विष्णुर्हरोऽप्यत्ति धत्ते शेषोऽखिलां महीम्

Transliteration

tapasā sṛjyate viśvaṃ brahmā viśvaṃ vināśramam | pāti viṣṇurharo'pyatti dhatte śeṣo'khilāṃ mahīm

Translation

By tapas—austerity and concentrated spiritual power—Brahmā brings forth this universe, this ordered world-system. Viṣṇu protects it; Hara (Śiva) withdraws and dissolves it in due time; and Śeṣa upholds the entire earth.

Word by Word

• tapasā: by austerity
• tapasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• sṛjyate: is created
• sṛjyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sṛj (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• viśvam: the universe
• viśvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• brahmā: Brahmā
• brahmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• viśvam: the universe
• viśvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• vinā-āśramam: without āśrama (without stages/abodes)
• vinā-āśramam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vinā (अव्यय) + āśrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; नञर्थक-प्रयोगः (vinā + accusative = 'without')

• pāti: protects
• pāti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pā (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• viṣṇuḥ: Viṣṇu
• viṣṇuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• haraḥ: Hara (Śiva)
• haraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-कार

• atti: devours/destroys
• atti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ad (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• dhatte: holds/supports
• dhatte: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhā (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• śeṣaḥ: Śeṣa (serpent)
• śeṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• akhilām: entire
• akhilām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akhila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• mahīm: earth
• mahīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: cyclic creation-preservation-dissolution (sṛṣṭi–sthiti–saṃhāra)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Shiva
• Hara
• Shesha
• Earth (Mahi)

FAQs

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

It summarizes the cosmic cycle—creation, preservation, and dissolution—while implying the Shaiva view that dissolution (samhāra) returns all to the Lord (Hara), and that disciplined tapas is a channel through which cosmic order manifests.

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

By naming Hara as the power of withdrawal/dissolution, the verse supports Saguna Shiva worship: the Liṅga signifies the Lord as the ground into which the cosmos resolves, guiding devotees to see all forms as dependent on Shiva and to seek refuge in him.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Tapas is the key teaching: steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), accompanied by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa, is a practical Shaiva discipline aligning the mind with Shiva’s cosmic order.