Shloka 3

पञ्चकृत्यलक्षणनिर्णयः

Definition of Śiva’s Five Cosmic Acts—Pañcakṛtya

Devanagari script

सर्गः संसारसंरंभस्तत्प्रतिष्ठा स्थितिर्मता । संहारो मर्दनं तस्य तिरोभावस्तदुत्क्रमः

Transliteration

sargaḥ saṃsārasaṃraṃbhastatpratiṣṭhā sthitirmatā | saṃhāro mardanaṃ tasya tirobhāvastadutkramaḥ

Translation

Penciptaan ialah menzahirkan kewujudan duniawi; peneguhannya dikenal sebagai pemeliharaan. Peleburan ialah penghancuran—penarikan balik dunia yang termanifest; dan tirobhāva (penyembunyian) ialah menutupinya dengan tirai, menariknya daripada penzahiran yang nyata.

Word by Word

• सर्गः: creation; emanation
• सर्गः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• संसार-संरम्भः: the undertaking/commencement of worldly existence
• संसार-संरम्भः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसार (प्रातिपदिक) + संरम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Genitive determinative: 'of saṃsāra')

• तत्-प्रतिष्ठा: its establishment
• तत्-प्रतिष्ठा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + प्रतिष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ('its establishment')

• स्थितिः: maintenance; continuance
• स्थितिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मता: is considered (to be)
• मता: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √मन् (धातु) + त (क्त/कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'considered/held as' (agrees with स्थितिः by sense; feminine form)

• संहारः: withdrawal; destruction
• संहारः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मर्दनम्: crushing; subduing
• मर्दनम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तस्य: of that; of it
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• तिरोभावः: concealment; veiling
• तिरोभावः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिरोभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तत्-उत्क्रमः: its withdrawal/transcendence
• तत्-उत्क्रमः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + उत्क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ('its transcending/withdrawal')

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Exegetical unpacking of pañcakṛtya: defines sarga as saṃsāra-saṃrambha (initiation of world-process), sthiti as pratiṣṭhā (establishment), saṃhāra as mardana (crushing/withdrawal), and tirodhāna as utkrama (veiling/withdrawal from clear manifestation).

Significance: Provides a contemplative map for devotees to interpret change, decay, and obscuration as aspects of Śiva’s governance rather than chaos; supports śānta-bhakti grounded in metaphysical clarity.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines key cosmic operations—creation, maintenance, dissolution, and veiling—showing that the universe’s appearing and disappearing occur under Shiva’s lordship, and that bondage persists when reality is veiled (tirobhāva).

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

The Linga is worshipped as the visible sign of the Lord who performs these cosmic functions; Saguna Shiva is approached as the compassionate ruler who manifests, sustains, withdraws, and conceals the world, leading the devotee toward insight beyond the veil.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the inner Lord behind all arising and dissolving, and stabilize the mind with japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to pierce tirobhāva (the veiling) and orient toward liberation.