Shloka 15

Śiva’s Boon to Viśvakarman and the Manifestation of Devī

Bhavānī/Parāśakti

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । देवि देवेन सृष्टो ऽहमादौ सर्वजगन्मयि । प्रजासर्गे नियुक्तश्च सृजामि सकलं जगत्

Transliteration

brahmovāca | devi devena sṛṣṭo 'hamādau sarvajaganmayi | prajāsarge niyuktaśca sṛjāmi sakalaṃ jagat

Translation

Brahmā said: O Goddess, O You who pervade the entire universe—at the beginning I was created by the Lord (Śiva). Appointed to the work of generating beings, I bring forth this whole world.

Word by Word

• brahmā: Brahmā
• brahmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच्)
• Form: लिट् लकार (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• devi: O Goddess
• devi: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन विभक्ति, एकवचन (vocative)

• devena: by the god
• devena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• sṛṣṭaḥ: created
• sṛṣṭaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √sṛj (सृज्) (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘created’

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुषवाचक सर्वनाम; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ādau: in the beginning
• ādau: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगवत् अव्यय (locative sense) ‘in the beginning/at first’

• sarva-jagat-mayi: O one who is the whole universe
• sarva-jagat-mayi: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva + jagat + mayī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः ‘सर्वं जगत् यस्यां मयम्/मयी’ = she who is pervaded by/consisting of all the world

• prajā-sarge: in the creation of beings
• prajā-sarge: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā + sarga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्रजानां सर्गः) ‘in the creation of creatures’

• niyuktaḥ: appointed
• niyuktaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ni-√yuj (युज्) (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘appointed/assigned’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक निपातः (and)

• sṛjāmi: I create
• sṛjāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sṛj (सृज्)
• Form: लट् लकार (present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• sakalam: entire
• sakalam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sakala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• jagat: world
• jagat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: kalpa-beginning (creation commencement)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It establishes Śiva as the supreme source (Pati) even of Brahmā, showing that cosmic creation happens through divine appointment—encouraging surrender to Śiva as the ultimate governor beyond all secondary creators.

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

By affirming that the Lord who empowers creation is Śiva, the verse supports Saguna worship—especially Śiva-linga worship—as devotion to the visible symbol of the transcendent Pati who stands behind all cosmic functions.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to meditate on Śiva as the inner ruler of all actions and recite the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) as a sign of surrender to the Lord who directs even Brahmā’s creative power.