Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20

सृष्टिक्रमवर्णनम् / Description of the Sequence of Creation

Devanagari script

श्रद्धा लक्ष्मीर्धृतिस्तुष्टिः पुष्टिर्मेधा तथा क्रिया । वसुःर्बुद्धि लज्जा शांतिः सिद्धिः कीर्तिस्त्रयोदश

Transliteration

śraddhā lakṣmīrdhṛtistuṣṭiḥ puṣṭirmedhā tathā kriyā | vasuḥrbuddhi lajjā śāṃtiḥ siddhiḥ kīrtistrayodaśa

Translation

Śraddhā, Lakṣmī, Dhṛti, Tuṣṭi, Puṣṭi, Medhā et Kriyā ; Vasū, Buddhi, Lajjā, Śānti, Siddhi et Kīrti : telles sont les treize (puissances divines).

Word by Word

• śraddhā: Śraddhā (Faith)
• śraddhā: Karta (कर्ता/नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śraddhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• lakṣmīḥ: Lakṣmī (Fortune)
• lakṣmīḥ: Karta (कर्ता/नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• dhṛtiḥ: Dhṛti (Steadfastness)
• dhṛtiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tuṣṭiḥ: Tuṣṭi (Contentment)
• tuṣṭiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tuṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• puṣṭiḥ: Puṣṭi (Nourishment)
• puṣṭiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• medhā: Medhā (Intelligence)
• medhā: Karta (कर्ता/नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: medhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tathā: and also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) meaning ‘also/likewise’

• kriyā: Kriyā (Action/Performance)
• kriyā: Karta (कर्ता/नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kriyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• vasuḥ: Vasu
• vasuḥ: Karta (कर्ता/नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); here as a proper name

• buddhiḥ: Buddhi (Intellect)
• buddhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• lajjā: Lajjā (Modesty)
• lajjā: Karta (कर्ता/नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lajjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• śāntiḥ: Śānti (Peace)
• śāntiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śānti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• siddhiḥ: Siddhi (Accomplishment)
• siddhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• kīrtiḥ: Kīrti (Fame)
• kīrtiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kīrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• trayodaśa: (these are) thirteen
• trayodaśa: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: trayodaśan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral adjective (संख्याविशेषण), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग) agreeing with implied plural, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Rudra Saṃhitā account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: personification of guṇa-like virtues as progenitive powers within sarga

FAQs

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

It lists thirteen inner-and-outer auspicious qualities that sustain dharma and spiritual maturation—showing that grace expresses itself as virtues like faith, peace, discernment, and accomplished living, which prepare the seeker for Shiva’s liberating knowledge.

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

In Saguna Shiva worship (Linga-pūjā), these qualities are both fruits and supports: śraddhā and kriyā ground daily pūjā, while śānti and buddhi refine devotion so that worship becomes a doorway to realizing Shiva beyond form (Nirguna).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Emphasize śraddhā and kriyā through steady Linga-pūjā with the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and cultivate śānti via japa and quiet meditation after worship; let lajjā (self-restraint) and dhṛti (steadfastness) stabilize the practice.