Shloka 12
सृष्टिविस्तारप्रश्नः (Sṛṣṭi-vistāra-praśnaḥ) — The Detailed Inquiry into Creation
अनंतं पुष्करं प्राप्य गतास्तेऽपि पराभवम् । अद्यापि न निवर्तंते समुद्रेभ्य इवापगाः
anaṃtaṃ puṣkaraṃ prāpya gatāste'pi parābhavam | adyāpi na nivartaṃte samudrebhya ivāpagāḥ
Setelah mencapai Puṣkara yang tak bertepi, mereka pun mengalami kekalahan; dan hingga kini mereka tidak kembali—laksana sungai yang masuk ke samudra tak mengalir balik.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya, within the philosophical flow of the Umāsaṃhitā)
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
It uses the river–ocean image to point to an irreversible spiritual culmination: when the soul’s limited identity is overcome and it reaches the Supreme (through Shiva’s grace), it does not revert to former bondage—just as rivers do not return after entering the sea.
In Shaiva Siddhanta, devotion to Saguna Shiva (Linga worship, mantra, pūjā) purifies the pashu (bound soul) and loosens pasha (bondage). The ‘non-return’ imagery supports the doctrine that sustained Shiva-bhakti and right worship culminate in stable liberation rather than temporary spiritual experiences.
Takeaway: practice steady Shiva-upāsanā—daily japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa, cultivating non-egoic surrender so the mind ‘flows’ one-pointedly toward Shiva like a river to the ocean.