Shloka 9

स्वेच्छाविग्रहसंभव-प्रतिष्ठाफलवर्णनम् (विविधशिवमूर्तिप्रतिष्ठा, लोक-फल, शिवसायुज्य)

Devanagari script

सृष्ट्वा स्थितं हरिं वामे दक्षिणे चतुराननम् अष्टाविंशतिरुद्राणां कोटिः सर्वाङ्गसुप्रभम्

Transliteration

sṛṣṭvā sthitaṃ hariṃ vāme dakṣiṇe caturānanam aṣṭāviṃśatirudrāṇāṃ koṭiḥ sarvāṅgasuprabham

Translation

ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಯ ಕ್ರಮವನ್ನು ನಿರ್ಮಿಸಿ ಅವರು ಎಡಭಾಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಹರಿಯನ್ನು, ಬಲಭಾಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಚತುರ್ಮುಖ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮನನ್ನು ಸ್ಥಾಪಿಸಿದರು; ಮತ್ತು ಅಷ್ಟಾವಿಂಶತಿ ರೂಪಗಳ ರುದ್ರರ ಒಂದು ಕೋಟಿ ಸಮೂಹವು ಸರ್ವಾಂಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಕಾಶಮಾನವಾಗಿ ಪ್ರकटವಾಯಿತು।

Word by Word

• सृष्ट्वा: having created/emanated

• स्थितम्: placed/established

• हरिम्: Hari (Viṣṇu)

• वामे: on the left

• दक्षिणे: on the right

• चतुराननम्: the four-faced one (Brahmā)

• अष्टाविंशति-रुद्राणाम्: of the twenty-eight Rudras (the 28 forms/incarnations of Rudra)

• कोटिः: a crore (ten million)/vast multitude

• सर्वाङ्ग-सुप्रभम्: shining splendidly in all limbs

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purva-Bhaga account to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Brahma
• Rudras

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It frames Shiva (the Pati) as the supreme source who establishes Vishnu and Brahma in their cosmic functions; Linga worship follows this hierarchy by honoring the transcendent cause behind creation, preservation, and manifestation.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Shiva-tattva is shown as sovereign and prior to the functional deities: he “places” Hari and Brahmā, and from him issues the Rudra-host—indicating the Lord as the originating, regulating principle beyond limited agency.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

While no specific rite is named, the verse supports Pāśupata orientation: meditate on Shiva as Pati, with Brahmā and Vishnu as established powers, and contemplate the Rudra-manifestations as expressions of Shiva’s all-pervading radiance.