Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 35

सृष्टिक्रमवर्णनम् / Description of the Sequence of Creation

Devanagari script

सैव दक्षात्समुद्भूता लोककार्यार्थमेव च । लीलां चकार बहुशो भक्तोद्धरणहेतवे

Transliteration

saiva dakṣātsamudbhūtā lokakāryārthameva ca | līlāṃ cakāra bahuśo bhaktoddharaṇahetave

Translation

Elle naquit en vérité de Dakṣa, uniquement pour accomplir l’œuvre divine du monde. À maintes reprises, elle déploya de saintes līlās, afin d’élever et de délivrer les dévots.

Word by Word

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• eva: indeed/alone
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle of emphasis/limitation)

• dakṣāt: from Dakṣa
• dakṣāt: Apādāna (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• samudbhūtā: arisen/born
• samudbhūtā: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ud-bhū (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; “arisen/been born”

• loka-kārya-artham: for the world’s purpose
• loka-kārya-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक) + kārya (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: “लोकस्य कार्यस्य अर्थम्” (for the purpose of the world’s task)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• līlām: divine play
• līlām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: līlā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• cakāra: did/performed
• cakāra: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• bahuśaḥ: many times
• bahuśaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bahuśas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, आवृत्तिवाचक (frequency adverb: “many times”)

• bhakta-uddharaṇa-hetave: for the cause of uplifting devotees
• bhakta-uddharaṇa-hetave: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakta (प्रातिपदिक) + uddharaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + hetu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (Dative/4th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: “भक्तानाम् उद्धरणस्य हेतवे” (for the cause of devotees’ deliverance)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Daksha
• Sati

FAQs

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

It teaches that divine incarnations and events are not random: Sati’s birth and actions are portrayed as purposeful līlā meant for loka-kārya (cosmic welfare) and bhaktoddharaṇa (uplifting devotees), highlighting Shiva’s grace working through sacred history.

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

By emphasizing līlā and the uplift of devotees, the verse supports Saguna devotion—approaching Shiva through accessible forms, narratives, and grace-filled acts. Such stories cultivate faith that leads the devotee toward deeper realization, ultimately pointing to Shiva beyond form as well.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is steady bhakti: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with an attitude of surrender, trusting that Shiva’s grace operates through divine līlā to protect and elevate the devotee.