Shiva Purana — Kailasa Samhita, Shloka 45

सृष्टिपद्धतिवर्णनम्

Exposition of the Supreme Method of Creation and the Tirodhāna-Cakra

Devanagari script

आवृतो वायुना वह्निराकाशेनावृतं महत् । भूतादिना तथाकाशो भूतादिर्महतावृतः

Transliteration

āvṛto vāyunā vahnirākāśenāvṛtaṃ mahat | bhūtādinā tathākāśo bhūtādirmahatāvṛtaḥ

Translation

ଅଗ୍ନି ବାୟୁଦ୍ୱାରା ଆବୃତ; ମହତ୍ତତ୍ତ୍ୱ ଆକାଶଦ୍ୱାରା ଆବୃତ। ଏହିପରି ଆକାଶ ଭୂତାଦିଦ୍ୱାରା ଆବୃତ, ଏବଂ ଭୂତାଦି ମହତ୍ତତ୍ତ୍ୱଦ୍ୱାରା ଆବୃତ—ଏଭଳି ତତ୍ତ୍ୱମାନେ ପରସ୍ପର ଆବରଣ କରନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• आवृतः: covered
• आवृतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आवृत (कृदन्त; √वृ धातु, आ-उपसर्ग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) (qualifies वह्निः)

• वायुना: by air/wind
• वायुना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वह्निः: fire
• वह्निः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आकाशेन: by ether/space
• आकाशेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आवृतम्: covered
• आवृतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आवृत (कृदन्त; √वृ धातु, आ-उपसर्ग)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) (qualifies महत्)

• महत्: Mahat (the great principle)
• महत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सांख्य-तत्त्वनाम (the Mahat principle)

• भूत-आदिना: by Bhūtādi (the elemental source)
• भूत-आदिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (भूतादि = the beginning/source of elements; here: by bhūtādi)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः: क्रियाविशेषण/समुच्चयार्थ (adverb: likewise/and so)

• आकाशः: ether/space
• आकाशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भूत-आदिः: Bhūtādi (origin of elements)
• भूत-आदिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (भूतानाम् आदिः = origin of elements; Bhūtādi principle)

• महत्-आवृतः: covered by Mahat
• महत्-आवृतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक) + आवृत (कृदन्त; √वृ धातु, आ-उपसर्ग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) ‘आवृत’; तत्पुरुषः (महतā आवृतः = covered by Mahat)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (philosophical instruction in Kailāsasaṃhitā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: tattva-āvaraṇa sequence (fire-air-space-mahat-bhūtādi)

FAQs

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

It maps how the manifest cosmos is layered through successive tattvas, helping the seeker discern the non-eternal coverings (pāśa) and turn inward toward Pati—Lord Shiva—who transcends all such envelopment.

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

By showing that all elements and principles are limited and mutually conditioned, the verse supports Linga-worship as a focus on Shiva as the transcendent ground (beyond bhūtas and mahat) while also approachable in saguna form for devotion and concentration.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is tattva-dhyāna: during japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), contemplate the elements as coverings and offer them mentally into Shiva, reinforcing vairāgya and inner absorption.