Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 53

Devanagari script

प्रजास्स्रष्टुमयं शंभो प्रादुर्भूतश्चतुर्मुखः । अस्मिन्हते प्रजास्रष्टा नास्त्यन्यः प्राकृतोऽधुना

Transliteration

prajāssraṣṭumayaṃ śaṃbho prādurbhūtaścaturmukhaḥ | asminhate prajāsraṣṭā nāstyanyaḥ prākṛto'dhunā

Translation

Wahai Śambhu, yang bermuka empat ini (Brahmā) telah menzahirkan diri untuk mencipta makhluk. Jika dia dibunuh, maka pada masa ini tiadalah pencipta keturunan yang bersifat semula jadi selainnya di dunia.

Word by Word

• प्रजाः: creatures, subjects
• प्रजाः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• स्रष्टुम्: to create
• स्रष्टुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), 'to create'

• अयम्: this (one)
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• शम्भो: O Śambhu
• शम्भो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रादुःभूतः: manifested, appeared
• प्रादुःभूतः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रादुर्भूत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √भू)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle)

• चतुर्मुखः: the four-faced one (Brahmā)
• चतुर्मुखः: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्-मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (चत्वारि मुखानि यस्य = four-faced)

• अस्मिन्: in this (case/when this one)
• अस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• हते: when (he) is slain
• हते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative absolute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √हन्)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त; सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध (locative absolute sense with अस्मिन्)

• प्रजास्रष्टा: creator of beings
• प्रजास्रष्टा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा-स्रष्टृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्रजानां स्रष्टा = creator of creatures)

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अस्ति: is
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अन्यः: another
• अन्यः: Visheshya (विशेष्य/Predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्राकृतः: natural, ordinary
• प्राकृतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अधुना: now
• अधुना: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधुना (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (temporal adverb: 'now')

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Śambhu), in the narrative context of Satī Khaṇḍa as relayed by Sūta to the sages

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It distinguishes Śiva as the supreme Lord (Pati) from the functional creator Brahmā, showing that cosmic roles proceed by Śiva’s governance; the continuity of creation is preserved for dharma and the world’s order.

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

It supports Saguna Śiva as the sovereign who empowers and regulates divine functions (creation through Brahmā). Linga-worship centers on this Lordship—Śiva as the source who sustains all cosmic offices.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as Pati beyond prakṛti while chanting the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), cultivating reverence for cosmic order and non-violence toward dharma-sustaining beings.