Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 37

हंस-वराह-रूपग्रहण-कारणम्

The Reason for Assuming the Swan and Boar Forms

Devanagari script

सत्यं पदमुपाश्रित्य स्थितोऽहं मुनिसत्तम । सृष्टिकामोऽभवं तात महादेवाज्ञया ह्यहम्

Transliteration

satyaṃ padamupāśritya sthito'haṃ munisattama | sṛṣṭikāmo'bhavaṃ tāta mahādevājñayā hyaham

Translation

โอ้ยอดมุนี! อาศัยพทอันสัตย์และไม่เสื่อมสูญ ข้าพเจ้าดำรงมั่นอยู่ ณ ที่นั้น แล้วต่อมา โอ้ผู้เป็นที่รัก ด้วยพระบัญชาของมหาเทวะ ข้าพเจ้าจึงมุ่งหมายจะสร้างสรรค์।

Word by Word

• satyam: true
• satyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; used as qualifier of padam

• padam: state/abode
• padam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• upāśritya: having taken refuge in
• upāśritya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: upa-ā-śri (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), avyaya; “having resorted to/taken refuge in”

• sthitaḥ: standing/abiding
• sthitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: Past participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate with aham

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• muni-sattama: O best of sages
• muni-sattama: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; कर्मधारयः—“best (sattama) among sages (muni)”

• sṛṣṭi-kāmaḥ: desiring creation
• sṛṣṭi-kāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sṛṣṭi + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; तत्पुरुषः—“desirous of creation” (सृष्टेः कामः)

• abhavam: I became
• abhavam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ-lakāra (Aorist/अनद्यतनभूत), Uttama-puruṣa (1st), Ekavacana (Singular), Parasmaipada

• tāta: O dear one/son
• tāta: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; संबोधन

• mahādeva-ājñayā: by Mahādeva’s command
• mahādeva-ājñayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahādeva + ājñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; तत्पुरुषः—“by the command of Mahādeva” (महादेवस्य आज्ञया)

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; causal/emphatic particle

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; पुनरुक्ति for emphasis

Speaker

Brahma (speaking within Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa narration, under Sūta’s overarching discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Transition from abiding in ‘satya-pada’ to initiating sṛṣṭi under Mahādeva’s ājñā (command)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Mahadeva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It shows that even Brahmā’s creative power is secondary: he first abides in the “satya-pada” (the stable ground of truth) and then acts only through Mahādeva’s command, reflecting Shaiva Siddhanta’s emphasis on Pati (Shiva) as the supreme governor of all functions.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Shiva as Mahādeva who issues ajñā (divine ordinance) enabling cosmic functions. Linga-worship centers on this Lord as the sovereign source from whom creation, maintenance, and dissolution proceed.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to begin actions with refuge in truth and surrender to Shiva’s will—expressed through japa of the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” accompanied by calm, steady recollection of Mahādeva as the inner ruler.