Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 11

शिवज्ञान-प्रश्नः तथा सृष्टौ शिवस्य स्वयमाविर्भावः

Inquiry into Śiva-knowledge and Śiva’s self-manifestation in creation

Devanagari script

दृष्टो रुद्रेण देवो ऽसावसृजद्विश्वमीश्वरः । वर्णाश्रमव्यवस्थां च चकार स पृथक्पृथक्

Transliteration

dṛṣṭo rudreṇa devo 'sāvasṛjadviśvamīśvaraḥ | varṇāśramavyavasthāṃ ca cakāra sa pṛthakpṛthak

Translation

Aperçu par Rudra, ce Seigneur—Īśvara—fit naître l’univers ; et Il établit aussi l’ordonnancement distinct des varṇa et des āśrama, chacun séparément à sa juste place.

Word by Word

• दृष्टः: (having been) seen
• दृष्टः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √दृश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle) ‘seen’

• रुद्रेण: by Rudra
• रुद्रेण: Kartr-karana (कर्तृकरण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; कर्तृकरणे ‘by Rudra’

• देवः: the god
• देवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• असौ: that one; he
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• असृजत्: created; emitted
• असृजत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (भूतकाल), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विश्वम्: the universe
• विश्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ईश्वरः: the Lord
• ईश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; देवः/असौ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• वर्ण-आश्रम-व्यवस्थाम्: the organization of varṇas and āśramas
• वर्ण-आश्रम-व्यवस्थाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक) + व्यवस्था (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (वर्णाश्रमयोः व्यवस्था)

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

• चकार: made; established
• चकार: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/परफेक्ट), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

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

• पृथक्-पृथक्: separately; distinctly
• पृथक्-पृथक्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक-अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति (reduplication) ‘separately, in distinct divisions’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vayu Samhita discourse to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Ordering phase of creation: emission of the universe and institution of social-spiritual disciplines.

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Ishvara

FAQs

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

It presents Īśvara (the Supreme Pati) as the source of both the cosmos and dharmic order, showing that liberation-oriented life is supported by a divinely established structure of duties and stages.

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

By naming Īśvara as the creator and organizer, the verse supports Saguna Shiva worship (including Linga worship) as devotion to the personal Lord who governs creation and sustains dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is disciplined living according to one’s āśrama and dharma, coupled with steady Shaiva devotion—daily remembrance of Rudra/Īśvara (e.g., japa of the Panchakshara, where applicable) as the inner ruler of order.