Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 46

सृष्टिक्रमवर्णनम् / Description of the Sequence of Creation

Devanagari script

गुणमय्यस्तथा देव्यो देवा गुणमयास्त्रयः । मिलित्वा विविधं सृष्टेश्चक्रुस्ते कार्यमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

guṇamayyastathā devyo devā guṇamayāstrayaḥ | militvā vividhaṃ sṛṣṭeścakruste kāryamuttamam

Translation

De même, les Déesses étaient faites des guṇa, et les trois dieux aussi étaient de forme guṇique. Réunis, ils accomplirent l’œuvre excellente de la création en maintes manières—sous la gouverne du Seigneur de la Création—selon le jeu des guṇa.

Word by Word

• guṇa-mayyaḥ: consisting of the guṇas
• guṇa-mayyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + mayya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā (प्रथमा/1st), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन); viśeṣaṇa of devyaḥ; tatpuruṣa: 'guṇaiḥ mayyāḥ' (consisting of qualities)

• tathā: thus, likewise
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• devyaḥ: goddesses
• devyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā (प्रथमा/1st), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन)

• devāḥ: gods
• devāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (प्रथमा/1st), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन)

• guṇa-mayāḥ: consisting of the guṇas
• guṇa-mayāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (प्रथमा/1st), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन); viśeṣaṇa of devāḥ; tatpuruṣa: 'guṇaiḥ mayāḥ' (made of qualities)

• trayaḥ: three
• trayaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: traya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (प्रथमा/1st), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन); numeral adjective qualifying devāḥ

• militvā: having come together
• militvā: Kriyā (क्रिया; pūrvakāla-kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: mil (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), 'militvā' from √mil (मिल्) = having met/assembled

• vividham: varied, diverse
• vividham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (द्वितीया/2nd), Ekavacana (एकवचन); viśeṣaṇa of implied 'sṛṣṭim' or of sṛṣṭeḥ as result

• sṛṣṭeḥ: of creation
• sṛṣṭeḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī (षष्ठी/6th), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• cakruḥ: they made, they did
• cakruḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (लुङ्, aorist), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन); √kṛ (कृ)

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (प्रथमा/1st), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन)

• kāryam: task, work
• kāryam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (द्वितीया/2nd), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• uttamam: excellent, supreme
• uttamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (द्वितीया/2nd), Ekavacana (एकवचन); viśeṣaṇa of kāryam

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmī (narrating the Rudra Saṃhitā account of creation to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Cosmogonic note: devas and devīs operate through the guṇas, collaboratively producing differentiated creation—implying prakṛti/māyā as the instrumental cause under higher governance.

Significance: Encourages discernment (viveka): guṇa-based cosmic functions belong to māyā; the seeker should not mistake guṇa-formed agencies for the transcendent Pati.

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: cosmogony (guṇa-driven differentiated creation)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• the three gods (Trimūrti as guṇa-based functions)
• the goddesses (Śaktis as guṇa-based powers)

FAQs

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

It frames creation as a coordinated manifestation through the three guṇas—divine powers and presiding deities acting together—while implying the higher Shaiva principle that liberation lies in transcending guṇa-bound activity and realizing the Lord who is beyond them.

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

The verse highlights that cosmic functions operate within guṇas; Saguna worship (including Linga worship) purifies and harmonizes the guṇas, preparing the devotee to recognize Shiva as the supreme reality who governs creation yet is not limited by guṇa-constitution.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is guṇa-śuddhi through Shaiva sādhanā—daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), Linga abhiṣeka, and wearing/using Rudrākṣa with disciplined conduct—to steady the mind and move beyond rajas and tamas toward inner clarity.