Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 1

सर्गविभागवर्णनम्

Classification of Creation: the Nine Sargas and the Streams of Beings

Devanagari script

पद्भ्यां चाश्वान्समातंगान् शरभान् गवयान्मृगान् । उष्ट्रानश्वतरांश्चैव न्यंकूनन्याश्च जातयः

Transliteration

padbhyāṃ cāśvānsamātaṃgān śarabhān gavayānmṛgān | uṣṭrānaśvatarāṃścaiva nyaṃkūnanyāśca jātayaḥ

Translation

Dengan kaki mereka lahirlah kuda dan gajah yang gagah, śarabha, lembu liar, rusa, unta, baghal (mule), serta juga spesies nyaṅku dan pelbagai jenis yang lain.

Word by Word

• padbhyām: with (two) feet
• padbhyām: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (Neuter), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental, 3rd), Dvivacana (Dual)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya (conjunction)

• aśvān: horses
• aśvān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative, 2nd), Bahuvacana (Plural)

• samātaṅgān: equal-to-elephants (very large ones)
• samātaṅgān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samā (प्रातिपदिक) + ataṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā bahuvacana

• śarabhān: śarabhas (mythic beasts)
• śarabhān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā bahuvacana

• gavayān: gavayas (wild oxen)
• gavayān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gavaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā bahuvacana

• mṛgān: deer/animals
• mṛgān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā bahuvacana

• uṣṭrān: camels
• uṣṭrān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uṣṭra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā bahuvacana

• aśvatarān: mules
• aśvatarān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśvatara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya (conjunction)

• eva: indeed/also
• eva: Sambandha (निपात/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (particle; emphasis)

• nyaṅkūn: nyaṅkus (a kind of deer/antelope)
• nyaṅkūn: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nyaṅku (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā bahuvacana

• anyāḥ: other
• anyāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative, 1st), Bahuvacana; qualifies ‘jātayaḥ’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya (conjunction)

• jātayaḥ: species/kinds
• jātayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jāti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Bahuvacana

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: species-manifestation phase within sarga (animal creation)

FAQs

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

It highlights the vastness of manifested creation—many species and forms—reminding the seeker that all embodied life (paśu) arises within the Lord’s ordered manifestation and is ultimately meant to return to Pati (Śiva) through right knowledge and devotion.

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

By enumerating creatures, the verse points to the diversity of the visible world (saguṇa realm). Linga-worship centers the mind on Śiva as the inner Lord of all forms, enabling the devotee to see creation as pervaded and governed by Him rather than as separate from Him.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate śiva-smaraṇa (remembrance of Śiva) while observing living beings—mentally offering them to the Lord; if practicing daily pūjā, recite the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") to sanctify perception of the created world.