Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

त्रैलोक्यसृष्टिकर्त्तुर्हि ब्रह्मणः परमेष्ठिनः । जगदायुष्यसिद्ध्यर्थं वारं कल्पितवान्प्रभुः

Transliteration

trailokyasṛṣṭikartturhi brahmaṇaḥ parameṣṭhinaḥ | jagadāyuṣyasiddhyarthaṃ vāraṃ kalpitavānprabhuḥ

Translation

For Brahmā, the Supreme Ordainer and creator of the three worlds, the Lord established the division of time into “days” (vāras), so that the lifespan and orderly continuance of the universe might be fulfilled.

Word by Word

• त्रैलोक्य-सृष्टि-कर्तुः: of the creator of the three-world creation
• त्रैलोक्य-सृष्टि-कर्तुः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रैलोक्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (trailokya-sṛṣṭi-kartuḥ = 'of the creator of the creation of the three worlds')

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्धसूचक निपात (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात/particle (emphasis/indeed)

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• परमेष्ठिनः: of the Supreme Lord of the seat (Parameṣṭhin)
• परमेष्ठिनः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमेष्ठिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; ब्रह्मणः विशेषण/उपाधि

• जगत्-आयुष्य-सिद्धि-अर्थम्: for the accomplishment of the world’s longevity
• जगत्-आयुष्य-सिद्धि-अर्थम्: प्रयोजन (हेतु/अर्थे; Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + आयुष्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (artha = 'for the purpose of' + preceding)

• वारम्: a turn; a share; an allotment
• वारम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• कल्पितवान्: appointed; arranged
• कल्पितवान्: क्रिया (Action predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कॢप् (धातु)
• Form: कृत्-प्रत्ययान्त (क्तवतु/क्तवत्), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; भूतकाले कर्तरि प्रयोगः (perfective past: 'having arranged/appointed')

• प्रभुः: the Lord
• प्रभुः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Purana to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a jyotirliṅga passage; it frames Śiva as the one who enables Brahmā’s creative office by establishing vāra/time-division for jagad-āyuṣya-siddhi (the universe’s orderly lifespan/continuance).

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Cosmogonic administration: time-division (vāra) instituted to stabilize the created cosmos across its intended duration.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

The verse presents Śiva as Prabhu—the supreme governor of Kāla (time)—who establishes cosmic order so that beings may live their allotted lifespan and progress through dharma toward liberation.

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

By portraying Śiva as the regulator behind Brahmā’s creative function, it supports Saguna worship: the Liṅga signifies the Lord’s ever-present, stabilizing power that sustains order in creation and time.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to sanctify time: observe daily Śiva-smaraṇa, japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and steady worship (with bhasma/rudrākṣa if one follows those vows) as a way of aligning one’s life with Śiva’s cosmic order.