Shloka 26
नारदप्रश्नवर्णन (Nāradapraśna-varṇana) — “Account of Nārada’s Inquiry”
सृष्टेः पूर्वं कथं शंभुस्स्वरूपेण प्रतिष्ठितः । सृष्टिमध्ये स हि कथं क्रीडन्संवर्तते प्रभुः
sṛṣṭeḥ pūrvaṃ kathaṃ śaṃbhussvarūpeṇa pratiṣṭhitaḥ | sṛṣṭimadhye sa hi kathaṃ krīḍansaṃvartate prabhuḥ
ก่อนการสร้างสรรค์ พระศัมภูทรงตั้งมั่นอยู่ในสภาวะเดิมแท้ของพระองค์อย่างไร? และท่ามกลางสรรพสิ่งที่ถูกสร้าง พระผู้เป็นเจ้าอันสูงสุดทรงดำเนินลิลา พร้อมทั้งก่อให้เกิดสังวรรตะ (การยุบสลาย) ได้อย่างไร
Sages at Naimisharanya (inquiring to Suta Goswami)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Role: creative
Cosmic Event: kalpa (implied); cyclic creation and saṃvarta (dissolution)
FAQs
It points to Shiva as Pati—the Supreme who remains self-established beyond time (prior to creation) and who, out of divine līlā, manifests, sustains, and withdraws the cosmos without losing His transcendence.
The verse bridges Nirguna and Saguna: Shiva is established in His own svarūpa (transcendent), yet within creation He is approachable through Saguna forms—classically worshipped as the Shiva-Linga—through which devotees relate to His cosmic functions.
Meditate on Shiva as both beyond creation and present within it—support this with japa of the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and contemplative awareness that all arising and dissolving occurs in the Lord’s presence.