Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

अजानतः कथं सृष्टिं बालिशा वै करिष्यथ । दिशं कांचिदजानंतस्तस्माद्विज्ञाय तां भुवम्

Transliteration

ajānataḥ kathaṃ sṛṣṭiṃ bāliśā vai kariṣyatha | diśaṃ kāṃcidajānaṃtastasmādvijñāya tāṃ bhuvam

Translation

O childish ones, how will you accomplish creation while remaining ignorant? Not even knowing any direction, therefore first understand this world—its order and its nature—and then act.

Word by Word

• अजानतः: of (you) not knowing
• अजानतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अ-√ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (Present active participle) नकार-निषेधपूर्वक; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन/द्विवचन-रूपसाम्य; 'of (you) not knowing'

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्नार्थक (how?)

• सृष्टिम्: creation
• सृष्टिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• बालिशाः: O foolish ones
• बालिशाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative function)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बालिश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे अपि (used as address)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक-निपात

• करिष्यथ: will you do/make
• करिष्यथ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple future), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• दिशम्: a direction
• दिशम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• काञ्चित्: some
• काञ्चित्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; अनिश्चित-विशेषण (some/any)

• अजानन्तः: not knowing
• अजानन्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अ-√ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (Present active participle) नकार-निषेधपूर्वक; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु/Cause marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तस्मात् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक तद्)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थे (therefore)

• विज्ञाय: having known
• विज्ञाय: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); पूर्वक्रिया (having ascertained/known)

• ताम्: that
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• भुवम्: earth/world
• भुवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुव्/भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva (as the supreme teacher, Pati, instructing beings engaged in creation/action)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; Śiva appears as the supreme teacher restraining/redirecting beings from ignorant sṛṣṭi—an instance of tirodhāna (concealment/limitation) preceding right knowledge.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

It teaches that ignorance (ajñāna) makes even great endeavors fruitless; in Shaiva Siddhanta, right knowledge is required to loosen pāśa (bondage) and to act in harmony with Pati (Shiva).

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

Linga-worship is meant to orient the mind toward Shiva as the guiding consciousness; this verse stresses first gaining inner orientation—like knowing the ‘direction’—so worship becomes informed devotion rather than blind ritual.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with contemplation (bhāvanā) to gain clarity and right orientation, then perform vows or worship (including bhasma/rudraksha if undertaken) with understanding rather than mere habit.