Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 2

सत्रप्रवृत्तिः — वायोः आगमनं च

Commencement of the Satra and the Arrival of Vāyu

Devanagari script

विश्वं सिसृक्षमाणानां पुरा विश्वसृजामिव

Transliteration

viśvaṃ sisṛkṣamāṇānāṃ purā viśvasṛjāmiva

Translation

In the beginning, as the cosmic creators set about bringing forth the universe, the entire world appeared—just as it appears to those who fashion the universe itself.

Word by Word

• विश्वम्: the universe
• विश्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• सिसृक्ष-माणानाम्: of those wishing to create
• सिसृक्ष-माणानाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √सृज् (धातु) + सन् (desiderative) + शानच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; सन्नन्त-धातोः वर्तमानकाले शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त: ‘desiring to create’

• पुरा: formerly / in the beginning
• पुरा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• विश्व-सृजाम्: of the creators of the universe
• विश्व-सृजाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + सृज् (कृदन्त; √सृज् धातु, क्विप्/agent-noun)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः: विश्वस्य स्रजः/स्रष्टारः (creators of the universe)

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (comparative particle)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: kalpa-beginning (sarga/primary creation implied)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It points to the primordial moment of manifestation, where creation unfolds through cosmic agents—yet, in Shaiva Siddhanta, their capacity to create ultimately depends on Pati (Shiva) as the supreme ground and regulator of manifestation.

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

Creation is presented as an ordered emergence; Saguna Shiva (worshipped in the Linga) is contemplated as the Lord who empowers and oversees the creative functions, making the Linga a support for meditating on Shiva as the source and governor of the cosmos.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is creation-contemplation (sṛṣṭi-bhāvanā) while repeating the Panchakshara—"Om Namaḥ Śivāya"—to recognize Shiva as the inner Lord behind all cosmic processes.