Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 4

सृष्टिक्रमवर्णनम् / Description of the Sequence of Creation

Devanagari script

मरीचिं च स्वनेत्राभ्यां हृदयाद्भृगुमेव च । शिरसोऽगिरसं व्यानात्पुलहं मुनिसत्तमम्

Transliteration

marīciṃ ca svanetrābhyāṃ hṛdayādbhṛgumeva ca | śiraso'girasaṃ vyānātpulahaṃ munisattamam

Translation

സ്വന്തം കണ്ണുകളിൽ നിന്ന് മരീചിയെ, ഹൃദയത്തിൽ നിന്ന് ഭൃഗുവിനെ, ശിരസ്സിൽ നിന്ന് അങ്കിരസിനെ, വ്യാന പ്രാണവായുവിൽ നിന്ന് മുനിശ്രേഷ്ഠനായ പുലഹനെ അദ്ദേഹം സൃഷ്ടിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• मरीचिम्: Marīci
• मरीचिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरीचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Accusative singular, masculine

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम् (conjunction) — ‘and’

• स्व-नेत्राभ्याम्: with (his) own two eyes
• स्व-नेत्राभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्य नेत्रे) — Instrumental dual, neuter

• हृदयात्: from the heart
• हृदयात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Ablative singular, neuter

• भृगुम्: Bhṛgu
• भृगुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृगु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Accusative singular, masculine

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्ययम् (emphatic particle) — ‘indeed/just’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम् — ‘and’

• शिरसः: from the head
• शिरसः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Ablative singular, neuter

• अगिरसम्: Aṅgiras
• अगिरसम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Accusative singular, masculine

• व्यानात्: from (the vital air) Vyāna
• व्यानात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Ablative singular, masculine (from vyāna-vāyu)

• पुलहम्: Pulaha
• पुलहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुलह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Accusative singular, masculine

• मुनि-सत्तमम्: the best of sages
• मुनि-सत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मुनीनां सत्तमः) — Accusative singular, masculine

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Sṛṣṭi-kathā to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: primary creation (sarga) of Prajāpati-sages from Brahmā’s limbs/prāṇas

Characters & Entities

• Marīci
• Bhṛgu
• Aṅgiras
• Pulaha

FAQs

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

It depicts ordered creation: subtle faculties (eyes, heart, head, prāṇa) become channels for manifesting great ṛṣis. From a Śaiva Siddhānta lens, this highlights that all creative power functions within the cosmic order ultimately governed by Pati (Śiva), while individual beings arise through graded tattvas and instruments.

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

Though the verse describes Brahmā’s emanations, the Rudra Saṃhitā frames creation as dependent on the Supreme Lord. Linga/Saguna Śiva worship trains the devotee to see all faculties—senses, mind, and prāṇa—as offerings to Śiva, the inner ruler behind cosmic manifestation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is prāṇa-sādhana with mantra: steady the breath (especially the diffused vyāna) and mentally offer the senses and heart into Śiva while repeating the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), supporting inner purity and devotion.