Shloka 36

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

Devanagari script

सरूपायां प्रसूतस्य स्त्रियां रुद्रश्च कोटिशः । तत्रैकादशमुख्यास्तु तन्नामानि मुने शृणु

Transliteration

sarūpāyāṃ prasūtasya striyāṃ rudraśca koṭiśaḥ | tatraikādaśamukhyāstu tannāmāni mune śṛṇu

Translation

ಆ ಸ್ತ್ರೀಯ ಸರೂಪಾ ಗರ್ಭದಿಂದ ಅನೇಕ ಕೋಟಿ ರುದ್ರರು ಜನಿಸಿದರು; ಆದರೆ ಅವರಲ್ಲಿ ಹನ್ನೊಂದು ಮುಖ್ಯರು—ಓ ಮುನಿಯೇ, ಅವರ ನಾಮಗಳನ್ನು ಕೇಳು।

Word by Word

• सरूपायाम्: in Sarūpā (a woman named Sarūpā)
• सरूपायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरूपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रसूतस्य: of the born one
• प्रसूतस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + सू (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular); अर्थ: of the one who was born/produced

• स्त्रियाम्: in a woman
• स्त्रियाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• रुद्रः: Rudra
• रुद्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• कोटिशः: in crores; countless
• कोटिशः: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; शस्-प्रत्ययान्त (distributive/adverbial), परिमाणार्थे (in crores/innumerably)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• एकादशमुख्याः: the eleven principal (ones)
• एकादशमुख्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकादश-मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण (रुद्राः-विशेषण); समास: एकादशानां मुख्याः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• तु: indeed
• तु: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विशेषार्थे/विरोधे (indeed/but)

• तत्: their
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular) (sandhi-form of तद् before n-); सम्बन्धार्थे

• नामानि: names
• नामानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• शृणु: hear/listen
• शृणु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse functions as a cosmological/emanational catalog: innumerable Rudras arise, with eleven treated as principal for ordering the cosmos.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Cosmological emanation of Rudra-hosts; classification of the ‘Ekādaśa Rudrāḥ’ as principal regulators of the worlds.

Characters & Entities

• Rudras
• Sarūpā

FAQs

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

It establishes that Rudra’s manifestations are immeasurable, yet for worship and contemplation the tradition highlights eleven principal Rudras—showing how the infinite Pati (Shiva) becomes accessible to the bound soul (paśu) through knowable forms.

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

The verse points to Saguna Shiva—Rudra forms with names and functions—supporting devotional and ritual focus; such plurality culminates in unity, as all Rudras are expressions of the one Shiva who is also worshiped as the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is nāma-smaraṇa (recitation of the chief Rudra names) alongside Panchākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), optionally supported by Tripuṇḍra bhasma and Rudrākṣa as Shaiva aids to steadiness and devotion.