Shloka 17

Viśveśvara-māhātmya and the Nirguṇa–Saguṇa Emergence of Śiva (Śakti–Puruṣa/Prakṛti Discourse)

Devanagari script

शिवाज्ञां स समासाद्य सृष्टिचक्रेऽद्भुता तदा । चतुर्द्दशमिता लोका ब्रह्मांडे यत्र निर्मिताः

Transliteration

śivājñāṃ sa samāsādya sṛṣṭicakre'dbhutā tadā | caturddaśamitā lokā brahmāṃḍe yatra nirmitāḥ

Translation

ശിവന്റെ ആജ്ഞ ലഭിച്ച ശേഷം അവൻ അപ്പോൾ അത്ഭുതകരമായ സൃഷ്ടിചക്രം പ്രവർത്തിപ്പിച്ചു. ആ ബ്രഹ്മാണ്ഡത്തിൽ പതിനാലു ലോകങ്ങൾ നിർമ്മിച്ച് സ്ഥാപിക്കപ്പെട്ടു।

Word by Word

• शिव-आज्ञाम्: Śiva's command
• शिव-आज्ञाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (2nd), एकवचन (sg.); समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य आज्ञा)

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन (sg.)

• समासाद्य: having approached/received
• समासाद्य: पूर्वकाल (Pūrvakāla/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-√सद् (धातु) → समासाद्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), ‘having approached/obtained’

• सृष्टि-चक्रे: in the cycle/process of creation
• सृष्टि-चक्रे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), सप्तमी विभक्ति (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन (sg.); समासः—तत्पुरुष (सृष्टेः चक्रे)

• अद्भुताः: wonderful, marvelous
• अद्भुताः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.)/स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.) प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st), बहुवचन (pl.); ‘लोका’ इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• तदा: then
• तदा: कालाधिकरण (Kāla-adhikaraṇa/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• चतुर्दश-मिताः: measured as fourteen
• चतुर्दश-मिताः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्दश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + मित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.) प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st), बहुवचन (pl.); समासः—द्विगु (चतुर्दश संख्या-पूर्वकः)

• लोकाः: worlds
• लोकाः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st), बहुवचन (pl.)

• ब्रह्म-अण्डे: in the cosmic egg (Brahmāṇḍa)
• ब्रह्म-अण्डे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), सप्तमी विभक्ति (7th), एकवचन (sg.); समासः—तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणः अण्डे)

• यत्र: wherein
• यत्र: देशाधिकरण (Deśa-adhikaraṇa/Place)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (relative adverb of place)

• निर्मिताः: were created
• निर्मिताः: कर्मणि भावः (Passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्मा (धातु) → निर्मित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) ‘made/created’, पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st), बहुवचन (pl.); ‘लोका’ इति पदेन सह

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya, describing Brahma’s creation under Shiva’s command)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: sṛṣṭi of brahmāṇḍa and caturdaśa-loka arrangement

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It establishes Śiva as Pati—the supreme Lord whose ājñā (divine ordinance) empowers cosmic functions. Creation is not independent; it unfolds as a regulated act within Śiva’s sovereignty, pointing seekers toward surrender to Śiva as the ground of order and liberation.

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

By showing that even Brahmā creates only after receiving Śiva’s command, the verse reinforces Saguna Śiva as the accessible Lord who governs the universe. Linga worship honors that same supreme authority—Śiva as the source, support, and regulator of all realms (lokas).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is ājñā-anusandhāna—aligning one’s will with Śiva’s will—supported by daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and offering water to the Śiva-liṅga with the intention of surrendering actions to Śiva’s ordinance.