Shloka 18

सृष्टिवर्णनम्

Cosmogony and the Roles of the Trimūrti

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमारं च ऋषिं सर्वेषामपि पूर्वजम् । सप्त चैते प्रजायंते पश्चाद्रुद्राश्च सर्वतः

Transliteration

sanatkumāraṃ ca ṛṣiṃ sarveṣāmapi pūrvajam | sapta caite prajāyaṃte paścādrudrāśca sarvataḥ

Translation

And the sage Sanatkumāra arose as well, the primordial elder of all. These seven were born first; thereafter, the Rudras manifested everywhere in all directions.

Word by Word

• सनत्कुमारम्: Sanatkumāra
• सनत्कुमारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनत्कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (सनत् + कुमार)

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

• ऋषिम्: the sage
• ऋषिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय (particle; emphasis/inclusion)

• पूर्वजम्: the ancestor/forefather
• पूर्वजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (indeclinable numeral)

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

• एते: these
• एते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), बहुवचन

• प्रजायन्ते: are born/arise
• प्रजायन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण—काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: afterwards)

• रुद्राः: Rudras
• रुद्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

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

• सर्वतः: everywhere/from all sides
• सर्वतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण—देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/व्याप्तिवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: from all sides/everywhere)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a jyotirliṅga episode; continues the emanational genealogy: Sanatkumāra as primordial sage, then proliferation of Rudras in all directions.

Significance: Affirms omnipresence of Rudra’s power across directions—useful for dik-smarana (directional remembrance) and cultivating all-pervasive Śiva-bhāva.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Sequential manifestation: primordial jñāna-sage first, then Rudras proliferating through all directions

Characters & Entities

• Sanatkumara
• Rudras

FAQs

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

It points to Rudra as an all-pervading divine principle: after the primordial sages arise, Rudra’s manifestations spread everywhere, indicating Shiva’s immanence as Pati (the Lord) sustaining and transforming creation.

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

The many Rudras “everywhere” support Saguna worship—devotees approach Shiva through accessible forms (including the Linga) while remembering that these forms signify the one all-pervading Rudra beyond limitation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with contemplation that Rudra pervades all directions, cultivating constant remembrance (smaraṇa) rather than worship limited to one place.