Shloka 37

सृष्टिपद्धतिवर्णनम्

Exposition of the Supreme Method of Creation and the Tirodhāna-Cakra

Devanagari script

निवृत्तिरूपमाख्यातं सृष्टिचक्रमिदं बुधैः । पितामहाधिष्ठितं च पदमेतद्धि शोभनम्

Transliteration

nivṛttirūpamākhyātaṃ sṛṣṭicakramidaṃ budhaiḥ | pitāmahādhiṣṭhitaṃ ca padametaddhi śobhanam

Translation

വിദ്വാന്മാർ ഈ സൃഷ്ടിചക്രത്തെ ‘നിവൃത്തി’ സ്വഭാവമുള്ളതെന്ന് പ്രഖ്യാപിക്കുന്നു; അത് മോക്ഷത്തിലേക്ക് തിരിച്ചുനയിക്കുന്നു. ഈ ശോഭന പദം പിതാമഹൻ (ബ്രഹ്മാവ്) അധിഷ്ഠിതമായ സ്ഥാനവും ആകുന്നു॥

Word by Word

• निवृत्ति-रूपम्: the form of withdrawal (nivṛtti)
• निवृत्ति-रूपम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निवृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (निवृत्तेः रूपम्) — nominative/accusative singular neuter

• आख्यातम्: is declared
• आख्यातम्: कर्मणि-क्रिया (Passive predicate/कर्मणि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + ख्या (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — ‘declared/called’

• सृष्टि-चक्रम्: the cycle of creation
• सृष्टि-चक्रम्: कर्ता/कर्म (Subject/Object depending on construal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सृष्टेः चक्रम्) — nominative/accusative singular neuter

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: विशेष्य (Apposition/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — demonstrative pronoun ‘this’

• बुधैः: by the wise
• बुधैः: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन — Instrumental plural masculine

• पितामह-अधिष्ठितम्: presided over by the Grandfather (Brahmā)
• पितामह-अधिष्ठितम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिष्ठित (कृदन्त; अधि + स्था धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पितामहेन/पितामहस्य अधिष्ठितम्) — ‘presided over by/under the authority of Brahmā’

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• पदम्: state/position
• पदम्: कर्ता/कर्म (Subject/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — nominative/accusative singular neuter

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — ‘this’

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle) — indeed

• शोभनम्: auspicious/beautiful
• शोभनम्: विशेषण (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोभन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — nominative/accusative singular neuter; विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: nivṛtti orientation within the sṛṣṭi-cakra (turning back toward mokṣa)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

It frames the cosmos not merely as outward expansion (pravṛtti) but as a divinely ordered cycle meant to mature the soul toward nivṛtti—detachment and return toward Shiva’s liberating grace.

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

By presenting creation as a purposeful cycle overseen by divine powers, it supports Saguna worship (such as Linga-upāsanā) as a practical means to purify bondage (pāśa) and turn the devotee inward toward liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt a nivṛtti-oriented discipline: daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a worshipful mindset, using vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa as aids to steady remembrance and detachment.