Shloka 33

सृष्टिविस्तारप्रश्नः (Sṛṣṭi-vistāra-praśnaḥ) — The Detailed Inquiry into Creation

Devanagari script

कर्ता शिल्पसहस्राणां त्रिदशानां च वार्द्धकिः । भूषणानां च सर्वेषां कर्ता शिल्पवतां वरः

Transliteration

kartā śilpasahasrāṇāṃ tridaśānāṃ ca vārddhakiḥ | bhūṣaṇānāṃ ca sarveṣāṃ kartā śilpavatāṃ varaḥ

Translation

ಅವನು ಸಾವಿರಾರು ಶಿಲ್ಪಗಳ ಕರ್ತ, ದೇವತೆಗಳ ದಿವ್ಯ ವಾಸ್ತುಶಿಲ್ಪಿ; ಎಲ್ಲ ಆಭರಣಗಳ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಕರ್ತ—ಶಿಲ್ಪಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠನು।

Word by Word

• कर्ता: maker/creator
• कर्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्तृ-शब्दः (agent noun)

• शिल्प-सहस्राणाम्: of thousands of crafts
• शिल्प-सहस्राणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शिल्पानां सहस्राणि)

• त्रिदशानाम्: of the gods (thirty)
• त्रिदशानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिदश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• वार्द्धकिः: the artisan/carpenter
• वार्द्धकिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार्द्धकि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; शिल्पिन्/तक्षक-विशेषः (artisan/carpenter)

• भूषणानाम्: of ornaments
• भूषणानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक-प्रयोगः, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; सर्व-शब्दः (pronominal adjective)

• कर्ता: maker
• कर्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• शिल्पवताम्: of the skilled artisans
• शिल्पवताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिल्पवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; -वत् प्रत्ययान्त (possessor)

• वरः: the best/excellent one
• वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: ordering of divine civilization through craft

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas

FAQs

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

The verse sanctifies all skill and creativity as rooted in the divine order under Shiva’s lordship: even the highest celestial artistry ultimately reflects Pati (the Lord) as the source of perfection, guiding the devotee to see sacredness in dharmic work and devotion.

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

By praising divine attributes—mastery over crafts and adornments—it supports Saguna Shiva-bhakti, where devotees honor the Lord through beautiful offerings (flowers, ornaments, alankara) while recognizing that the Linga signifies the deeper, transcendent reality beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Offer simple alankara (flowers, bilva leaves, or clean adornments) to the Shiva-Linga with the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and meditate that all abilities and accomplishments are surrendered to Shiva as their true source.