Shloka 24

Lokapramāṇa–Grahamaṇḍala–Dhruvaloka-vyavasthā

Cosmic Measures and the Arrangement of the Heavenly Spheres

Devanagari script

हेतुभूतस्समस्तस्य प्रकृतिस्सा परा मुने । अंडानां तु सहस्राणां सहस्राण्ययुतानि च

Transliteration

hetubhūtassamastasya prakṛtissā parā mune | aṃḍānāṃ tu sahasrāṇāṃ sahasrāṇyayutāni ca

Translation

O sage, that Supreme Prakṛti is the causal ground of all. From her arise countless cosmic eggs—thousands upon thousands, and tens of thousands besides.

Word by Word

• हेतुभूतः: being the cause
• हेतुभूतः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हेतु (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (√भू धातु, क्त; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुष (हेतुः भूतो यस्य/यः)

• समस्तस्य: of all/entire
• समस्तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Genitive Singular (of the whole/all)

• प्रकृतिः: Prakṛti (nature)
• प्रकृतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• सा: she/that
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Nominative, Singular (pronoun)

• परा: supreme
• परा: Viśeṣya-dharma (विशेष्य-धर्म/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Nominative, Singular (predicate adjective)

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• अण्डानाम्: of eggs/cosmic eggs
• अण्डानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-अव्यय (but/indeed)

• सहस्राणाम्: of thousands
• सहस्राणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• सहस्राणि: thousands
• सहस्राणि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• अयुतानि: ten-thousands (ayutas)
• अयुतानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: multi-universe (anekāṇḍa) emanation

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Prakriti

FAQs

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

It points to the vastness of manifestation—innumerable universes—while implying that the seeker should look beyond the causal matrix (Prakṛti) toward the Supreme Lord (Pati), who alone grants liberation.

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

By describing creation as arising through Prakṛti, the text frames the Liṅga as the transcendent sign of Shiva who is beyond the produced cosmos; Saguna worship steadies the mind within creation, while the Liṅga points to Shiva’s supremacy over it.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the Lord of Prakṛti and repeat the Panchākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to detach from the immensity of worldly manifestation and turn inward toward moksha.