Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 12

सृष्टिक्रमवर्णनम् / Description of the Sequence of Creation

Devanagari script

स्वायंभुवो मनुस्तत्र पुरुषः परसाधनम् । शतरूपाभिधा नारी योगिनी सा तपस्विनी

Transliteration

svāyaṃbhuvo manustatra puruṣaḥ parasādhanam | śatarūpābhidhā nārī yoginī sā tapasvinī

Translation

Là, Svāyambhuva Manu était l’homme—un moyen excellent pour l’accomplissement du dessein suprême; et la femme nommée Śatarūpā était une yoginī, une ascète vouée au tapas.

Word by Word

• स्वायंभुवः: Svāyambhuva
• स्वायंभुवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वायंभुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेष-नाम

• मनुः: Manu
• मनुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• पुरुषः: the male/person
• पुरुषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परसाधनम्: the supreme means
• परसाधनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर + साधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-भाव (परम् साधनम्)

• शतरूपा-अभिधा: named Śatarūpā
• शतरूपा-अभिधा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शतरूपा + अभिधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शतरूपायाः अभिधा = named Śatarūpā)

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

• योगिनी: yoginī
• योगिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तपस्विनी: ascetic
• तपस्विनी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तपस्विनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Rudrasaṃhitā creation account to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: establishment of human progenitors (Manu-Śatarūpā) as instruments for pravṛtti and dharma in the created world.

Characters & Entities

• Svayambhuva Manu
• Shatarupa

FAQs

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

The verse presents the archetypal householder pair—Manu and Śatarūpā—as instruments for a higher purpose: sustaining dharma through disciplined living, where tapas and yoga purify the mind and support the soul’s movement toward Shiva (Pati) beyond bondage (pāśa).

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

By praising tapas and yogic discipline, the verse implies the inner preparation that makes Saguna Shiva-worship (including Linga-pūjā) fruitful—devotion supported by self-restraint, purity, and dharmic conduct.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The direct takeaway is tapas with yoga: adopt daily japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), maintain purity and restraint, and pair worship with disciplined observances (vrata) to steady the mind for Shiva-bhakti.