Shloka 8

Devanagari script

यत्तत्कारणमव्यक्तं व्यक्तं शिवमनामयम् । तस्मात्संजायते ब्रह्मा द्विधाभूताद्धि कालतः

Transliteration

yattatkāraṇamavyaktaṃ vyaktaṃ śivamanāmayam | tasmātsaṃjāyate brahmā dvidhābhūtāddhi kālataḥ

Translation

That Reality is the unmanifest Cause (avyakta) and also the manifest (vyakta)—Śiva, the stainless Lord, free from all affliction. From Him Brahmā is born, for by the power of Time the One becomes twofold.

Word by Word

• यत्: that which
• यत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (that which)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; निर्देश (that)

• कारणम्: cause
• कारणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘cause’

• अव्यक्तम्: unmanifest
• अव्यक्तम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-व्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण—‘unmanifest’

• व्यक्तम्: manifest
• व्यक्तम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण—‘manifest’

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (कर्मपद) ‘Śiva’

• अनामयम्: free from affliction
• अनामयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-नामय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण—‘free from disease/sorrow’

• तस्मात्: from that
• तस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन; ‘from that’

• संजायते: is born/arises
• संजायते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• द्विधा: twofold
• द्विधा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्विधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (in two ways/twofold)

• भूतात्: from the (twofold) state/element
• भूतात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन; ‘from the element/being’ (पाठे ‘द्विधाभूतात्’)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/कारणसूचक (indeed/for)

• कालतः: from/due to time
• कालतः: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (हेतु/अपादान), एकवचन; ‘due to/from time’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shaiva doctrine to the sages, consistent with Uma Samhita’s philosophical discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Contemplation of Śiva as both avyakta-kāraṇa (transcendent cause) and vyakta (immanent manifest) is a doctrinal tīrtha: it purifies wrong views about creation and establishes devotion to Pati as the true source beyond Brahmā.

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Cosmogony: emergence of Brahmā from Śiva; differentiation ‘one becomes twofold’ through Kāla-śakti.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Kala (Time)

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva alone is the ultimate Cause—both unmanifest (transcendent) and manifest (immanent). Creation begins when, through Kāla (Time), the One appears as twofold, and from that manifestation Brahmā arises; thus the seeker should take refuge in Shiva as Pati, the stainless source beyond all defect.

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

The verse supports Linga worship by affirming Shiva as both avyakta (beyond form) and vyakta (accessible in form). The Linga is precisely this bridge—aniconic yet present—through which devotees approach the manifest Shiva while remembering His unmanifest supremacy.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the pure, defectless Cause while chanting the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and worship the Shiva Linga with inner contemplation of the unmanifest (avyakta) and outer devotion to the manifest (vyakta) Lord.