Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 8

सृष्टिक्रमवर्णनम् / Description of the Sequence of Creation

Devanagari script

ततो मदाज्ञया तात धर्मः संकल्पसंभवः । मानवं रूपमापन्नस्साधकैस्तु प्रवर्तितः

Transliteration

tato madājñayā tāta dharmaḥ saṃkalpasaṃbhavaḥ | mānavaṃ rūpamāpannassādhakaistu pravartitaḥ

Translation

Então, querido, por Meu comando, o Dharma — nascido da intenção divina — assumiu uma forma humana e foi posto em prática ativa pelos aspirantes espirituais realizados.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/अनन्तरवाचक (then/thereafter)

• मत्-आज्ञया: by my command
• मत्-आज्ञया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे (fem., आज्ञा), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (my command)

• तात: O dear one/son
• तात: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संबोधन

• धर्मः: dharma
• धर्मः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• संकल्प-संभवः: born of intention
• संकल्प-संभवः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संकल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + संभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (arising from resolve)

• मानवम्: human
• मानवम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे (neut.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying rūpam)

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आपन्नः: having assumed/attained
• आपन्नः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आपद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'प्राप्तः/गतः' अर्थे

• साधकैः: by the sādhakas
• साधकैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• प्रवर्तितः: was initiated/established
• प्रवर्तितः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रवर्तय् (धातु; √वृत् caus.)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (was set in motion/was established)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Rudra)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: institution of dharma in human society (pravṛtti) as part of world-maintenance

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Dharma
• Sadhakas

FAQs

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

It teaches that Dharma is not merely social custom; it originates in Shiva’s saṅkalpa (divine will) and becomes effective in the world when realized and enacted by sādhakas, aligning human life with the cosmic order governed by Pati (Shiva).

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

Saguna Shiva, who commands and guides creation, establishes Dharma so that embodied beings can live in harmony with His order. Linga-worship expresses this alignment—devotion and conduct become a lived Dharma under Shiva’s authority.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is sādhana that makes Dharma ‘active’: daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), disciplined conduct, and worship (pūjā/abhisheka) performed with the intention to embody Shiva’s will.