Shloka 20

सृष्टिवर्णनम्

Cosmogony and the Roles of the Trimūrti

Devanagari script

प्रजायन्ते क्रियावन्तो महर्षिभिरलंकृताः । विद्युतोऽशनि मेघांश्च रोहितेन्द्रधनूंषि च

Transliteration

prajāyante kriyāvanto maharṣibhiralaṃkṛtāḥ | vidyuto'śani meghāṃśca rohitendradhanūṃṣi ca

Translation

Then arose mighty, efficacious forces—adorned by the great seers—and there appeared as well lightning, thunderbolts, clouds, the crimson glow, and Indra’s bow (the rainbow).

Word by Word

• प्रजायन्ते: are born / come into being
• प्रजायन्ते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-जा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• क्रियावन्तः: endowed with rites/actions
• क्रियावन्तः: Kartṛviśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; वत्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (possessive: ‘having actions/rites’)

• महर्षिभिः: by great sages
• महर्षिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महर्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

• अलंकृताः: adorned/embellished
• अलंकृताः: Kartṛviśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलङ्-कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘क्रियावन्तः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• विद्युतः: lightnings
• विद्युतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्युत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• अशनि: thunderbolt/thunder
• अशनि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मेघान्: clouds
• मेघान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• रोहित-इन्द्रधनूंषि: red rainbows
• रोहित-इन्द्रधनूंषि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोहित (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्रधनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘रोहितम् इन्द्रधनुः’ = red rainbow); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन (रूपं समानम्)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Elemental/atmospheric manifestation within sarga (creation sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Maharishis

FAQs

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

It presents nature’s awe-inspiring phenomena as orderly manifestations arising through sacred, efficacious power—pointing to Śiva-Śakti as the hidden governor of creation, not mere randomness.

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

Such visible forces (lightning, thunder, clouds, rainbow) are read as signs of the Lord’s immanent Śakti; Linga worship trains the devotee to recognize the one Pati (Śiva) behind changing forms (saguṇa expressions).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate the Lord’s presence in the elements while repeating the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”); offer water and bilva to the Śiva-liṅga with the attitude that all natural powers are His Śakti.