Shloka 38

सृष्टिविस्तारप्रश्नः (Sṛṣṭi-vistāra-praśnaḥ) — The Detailed Inquiry into Creation

Devanagari script

वृषाकपिश्च शम्भुश्च कपर्दी रैवतस्तथा । एकादशैते कथिता रुद्रास्त्रिभुवनेश्वराः

Transliteration

vṛṣākapiśca śambhuśca kapardī raivatastathā | ekādaśaite kathitā rudrāstribhuvaneśvarāḥ

Translation

“Vṛṣākapi, Śambhu, Kapardī, and likewise Raivata—these are declared to be the Eleven Rudras, the sovereign lords of the three worlds.”

Word by Word

• वृषाकपिः: Vṛṣākapi
• वृषाकपिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषाकपि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); समास: वृषस्य कपिः/वृष + कपि (तत्पुरुष; नाम)

• च: and
• च: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• शम्भुः: Śambhu
• शम्भुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• कपर्दी: Kapardī
• कपर्दी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपर्दिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• रैवतः: Raivata
• रैवतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रैवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb: likewise/also)

• एकादश: eleven
• एकादश: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकादश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural) (एते इति विशेष्येण सह)

• एते: these
• एते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• कथिताः: are said/declared
• कथिताः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense): 'are said'

• रुद्राः: Rudras
• रुद्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• त्रिभुवनेश्वराः: lords of the three worlds
• त्रिभुवनेश्वराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिभुवन-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); समास: त्रिभुवनस्य ईश्वराः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; the verse concludes the canonical ‘Ekādaśa Rudrāḥ’ list and explicitly calls them ‘tribhuvaneśvarāḥ’—cosmic sovereigns governing the three worlds.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Cosmic administration: eleven Rudra-powers as ‘lords of the three worlds’ (heaven, midspace, earth), implying ordered preservation and regulation.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudras
• Vṛṣākapi
• Śambhu
• Kapardī
• Raivata

FAQs

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

It affirms that the One Shiva manifests as multiple Rudra-forms to govern and bless the three worlds; recognizing these names as expressions of Rudra-tattva supports devotion (bhakti) and right understanding of the Lord’s cosmic sovereignty.

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

The Eleven Rudras are Saguna manifestations of Shiva; Linga-worship unifies these many divine functions into one supreme Pati (Shiva), allowing the devotee to honor all Rudra powers through a single, concentrated form of worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Japa of Shiva’s names (including Rudra-nāmas) with the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha as aids for steadiness and remembrance of Rudra.