Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 11

सृष्टिक्रमवर्णनम् / Description of the Sequence of Creation

Devanagari script

अर्द्धेन नारी पुरुषश्चार्द्धेन संततो मुने । स तस्यामसृजद्द्वंद्वं सर्वसाधनमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

arddhena nārī puruṣaścārddhena saṃtato mune | sa tasyāmasṛjaddvaṃdvaṃ sarvasādhanamuttamam

Translation

Ô sage, il était constitué pour moitié en femme et pour moitié en homme. D’elle, il fit naître la paire des contraires—un agencement excellent, moyen suprême pour le déploiement de toute vie mondaine.

Word by Word

• अर्द्धेन: by/with a half
• अर्द्धेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्द्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन

• नारी: woman
• नारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• पुरुषः: man
• पुरुषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अर्द्धेन: by/with a half
• अर्द्धेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्द्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• संततः: extended/formed
• संततः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संतत (कृदन्त; √तन् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तस्याम्: in her
• तस्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• असृजत्: created
• असृजत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• द्वन्द्वम्: a pair/couple
• द्वन्द्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वन्द्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• सर्वसाधनम्: the means for all (purposes)
• सर्वसाधनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + साधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सर्वस्य साधनम्)

• उत्तमम्: excellent/supreme
• उत्तमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; गुणवाचक

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Ardhanārīśvara

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: manifestation of dvandva (pairs of opposites) as the functional basis for worldly operation (pravṛtti) and continued creation.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti
• Ardhanarishvara

FAQs

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

It teaches that creation operates through dvandva (paired opposites), while Shiva as Pati remains the integrated source—Shiva and Shakti as one reality manifesting as complementary halves for the world-process.

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

The Liṅga signifies the transcendent Pati beyond gender and duality, while Saguna worship may contemplate Ardhanārīśvara to understand that all manifestation arises from the inseparable Shiva–Shakti unity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Ardhanārīśvara while repeating the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), cultivating equanimity toward opposites (pleasure/pain, gain/loss) as a practical discipline of moving beyond dvandva.