Shloka 16

सृष्टिवर्णनम्

Cosmogony and the Roles of the Trimūrti

Devanagari script

मरीचिमत्र्यंगिरसौ पुलस्त्यं पुलहं क्रतुम । वसिष्ठं तु महतेजास्सोऽसृजत्सप्त मानसान्

Transliteration

marīcimatryaṃgirasau pulastyaṃ pulahaṃ kratuma | vasiṣṭhaṃ tu mahatejāsso'sṛjatsapta mānasān

Translation

Then the supremely radiant Lord (Brahmā) created, by the power of his mind, the seven mind-born sages—Marīci, Atri, Aṅgiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, and Vasiṣṭha.

Word by Word

• मरीचिम्: Marīci
• मरीचिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरीचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अत्र्यम्: Atri
• अत्र्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अत्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अङ्गिरसौ: Aṅgiras (dual)
• अङ्गिरसौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), द्विवचन (dual); अङ्गिरसौ = two Aṅgirases / Aṅgiras (dual form)

• पुलस्त्यम्: Pulastya
• पुलस्त्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुलस्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• पुलहम्: Pulaha
• पुलहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुलह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• क्रतुम्: Kratu
• क्रतुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• वसिष्ठम्: Vasiṣṭha
• वसिष्ठम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक (but/indeed)

• महातेजाः: the great-lustrous one
• महातेजाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महातेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महत्तेजः यस्य)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• असृजत्: created/emitted
• असृजत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या-शब्दः; अत्र द्वितीया-बहुवचन-विशेषणरूपेण (qualifying mānasān)

• मानसान्: mind-born (ones)
• मानसान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; 'mind-born' (मानस) इति विशेषणम् (ऋषीन् विशेषयति)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a jyotirliṅga account; describes Brahmā’s mānasa-sṛṣṭi (mind-born creation) of the Saptarṣis, a standard cosmogenic sequence.

Significance: Didactic cosmology: situates Vedic seers within the created order (paśu under pāśa), preparing the narrative ground for Rudra/Śiva’s higher salvific role.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Primary creation sequence: emergence of mind-born progenitors (Saptarṣis)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Marici
• Atri
• Angiras
• Pulastya
• Pulaha
• Kratu
• Vasistha

FAQs

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

It establishes the sacred lineage of dharma: the Saptarishis arise as mind-born sages to transmit mantra, yajña, and right knowledge. In a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, such cosmic order functions within Pāśa (bondage and its structures) until beings turn toward Pati—Lord Shiva—for liberating grace.

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

By showing how rishis are appointed to uphold Vedic and spiritual disciplines, the verse indirectly supports the tradition through which Shiva-worship—especially Saguna devotion to the Linga with mantra and ritual—gets preserved and taught in the world.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to receive practice through a rishi-lineage: daily japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and disciplined worship (pūjā) done with purity and intent, as safeguarded by the sages’ transmitted dharma.