Shloka 12

अग्नियज्ञ-देवयज्ञ-ब्रह्मयज्ञ-गुरुपूजा-क्रमनिरूपणम् / Ordering and Definitions of Agniyajña, Devayajña, Brahmayajña, and Guru-Pūjā

Devanagari script

आदिसृष्टौ महादेवः सर्वज्ञः करुणाकरः । सर्वलोकोपकारार्थं वारान्कल्पितवान्प्रभुः

Transliteration

ādisṛṣṭau mahādevaḥ sarvajñaḥ karuṇākaraḥ | sarvalokopakārārthaṃ vārānkalpitavānprabhuḥ

Translation

At the very beginning of creation, Mahādeva—the omniscient Lord, the very source of compassion—devised the sacred disciplines and observances (vāra) for the welfare of all worlds.

Word by Word

• आदि-सृष्टौ: at the first creation
• आदि-सृष्टौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location-Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष (locative determinative: ‘at the beginning’ + ‘creation’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महादेवः: Mahādeva
• महादेवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (महान् देवः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सर्वज्ञः: all-knowing
• सर्वज्ञः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (सर्वं जानाति इति); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• करुणाकरः: ocean/source of compassion
• करुणाकरः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: करुणा (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (करुणायाः आकरः/निधिः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सर्व-लोक-उपकार-अर्थम्: for the benefit of all worlds
• सर्व-लोक-उपकार-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + उपकार (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष; अर्थम् = नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (accusative of purpose)

• वारान्: days/occasions (vāras)
• वारान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• कल्पितवान्: appointed/arranged
• कल्पितवान्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कॢप् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त (past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोग (agentive)

• प्रभुः: the Lord
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Positions Śiva as compassionate lawgiver at creation’s dawn: observances (vrata/vāra) are not arbitrary but grace-structures meant for loka-saṅgraha and the uplift of bound souls.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Beginning of creation (ādi-sṛṣṭi)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents Śiva as Pati (the supreme Lord) whose compassion initiates dharmic observances so beings may be purified, guided, and led toward liberation (mokṣa) for the good of all worlds.

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

The verse frames Saguna Śiva—Mahādeva with attributes like omniscience and compassion—as the divine lawgiver who establishes practices that culminate in Śiva-worship, including Linga-upāsanā and vrata-based devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It implies undertaking Śiva-oriented vratas and disciplined observances (such as Mahāśivarātri vrata), supported by mantra-japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—as a path meant for universal uplift.