Shloka 47

सृष्टिपद्धतिवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

उक्तानि सप्तावरणान्यस्य विश्वस्य गुप्तये । चक्राद्दशगुणाधिक्यं सलिलस्य विधीयते

Transliteration

uktāni saptāvaraṇānyasya viśvasya guptaye | cakrāddaśaguṇādhikyaṃ salilasya vidhīyate

Translation

ഈ വിശ്വത്തെ മറച്ചു സംരക്ഷിക്കാനായി ഏഴ് ആവരണങ്ങൾ പറഞ്ഞിരിക്കുന്നു. ചക്രത്തിന് അപ്പുറം ജല-ആവരണത്തിന്റെ വ്യാപ്തി പത്ത് മടങ്ങ് കൂടുതലായി നിശ്ചയിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• उक्तानि: said, stated
• उक्तानि: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Past passive participle, Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: विशेषण (Numeral qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याविशेषण (indeclinable numeral used adjectivally)

• आवरणानि: coverings, enclosures
• आवरणानि: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आवरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• अस्य: of this
• अस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), एकवचन — Pronoun, Genitive, Singular

• विश्वस्य: of the universe
• विश्वस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), एकवचन — Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• गुप्तये: for concealment/protection
• गुप्तये: सम्प्रदान (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान/Dative), एकवचन — Feminine, Dative, Singular

• चक्रात्: from the wheel/disc (measure)
• चक्रात्: अपादान (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (अपादान/Ablative), एकवचन — Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• दश: ten
• दश: विशेषण (Numeral qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याविशेषण (indeclinable numeral used adjectivally)

• गुण: times, multiple
• गुण: समासाङ्ग (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-आधार (used in compound)

• अधिक्यम्: increase, excess
• अधिक्यम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• सलिलस्य: of water
• सलिलस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सलिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), एकवचन — Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• विधीयते: is prescribed/assigned
• विधीयते: क्रिया (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√धा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान/Present), कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — Present passive, 3rd person singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: sapta-āvaraṇa doctrine; tenfold expansion of successive envelopes (here: water)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that the manifested cosmos is intentionally veiled by successive coverings, indicating Māyā’s concealing power (pāśa) over the bound soul (paśu), while pointing to Pati (Shiva) as the transcendent reality beyond all enclosures.

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

The Linga represents Shiva who pervades and yet surpasses the cosmic structure; contemplating these coverings supports Saguna worship as a doorway to realize Shiva’s transcendence beyond the layered universe.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is contemplative japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while visualizing the mind moving beyond worldly layers (āvaraṇas), cultivating dispassion and inwardness toward Shiva.