Shloka 14
सृष्टिपद्धतिवर्णनम्
Exposition of the Supreme Method of Creation and the Tirodhāna-Cakra
स संहारस्त्रिधा प्रोक्तो बुधैर्नित्यादिभेदतः । नित्यो जीवसुषुप्त्याख्यो विधेर्नैमित्तिकः स्मृतः
sa saṃhārastridhā prokto budhairnityādibhedataḥ | nityo jīvasuṣuptyākhyo vidhernaimittikaḥ smṛtaḥ
Orang bijaksana menyatakan bahawa peleburan (saṃhāra) itu tiga macam, dibezakan sebagai yang “kekal” dan jenis-jenis lainnya. Peleburan yang kekal disebut keadaan suṣupti—tidur lena jiwa; manakala peleburan yang berkala (naimittika) dikatakan milik Brahmā (Vidhī, Sang Pengatur).
Suta Goswami (narrating the Kailasha Samhita’s philosophical teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Rudra
Cosmic Event: pralaya taxonomy (nitya/naimittika implied)
FAQs
It frames saṃhāra (reabsorption) as a graded reality: one aspect is an ‘eternal’ dissolution likened to the jīva’s suṣupti, indicating a state where experience subsides yet the soul’s latent bonds remain; thus, true liberation requires Shiva’s grace that removes pāśa (bondage), not merely a temporary quiescence.
By distinguishing periodic cosmic dissolution from deeper states affecting the jīva, it points the seeker toward Pati (Shiva) as the transcendent Lord beyond Brahmā’s cycles. Linga-worship and Saguna Shiva-upāsanā are presented in the Purana as means to gain Shiva’s anugraha, which alone leads beyond cyclical dissolution and latent bondage.
A practical takeaway is to cultivate steady Shiva-smarana through japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and meditative withdrawal (pratyāhāra) so that the mind does not mistake mere inner stillness (sleep-like suṣupti) for liberation; complement with Shaiva markers like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa as supports to disciplined sādhanā.