स्रष्टुं तदा मतिं चक्रे ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मविदां वरः उदकैराप्लुतां क्ष्मां तां समादाय सनातनः
sraṣṭuṃ tadā matiṃ cakre brahmā brahmavidāṃ varaḥ udakairāplutāṃ kṣmāṃ tāṃ samādāya sanātanaḥ
Bấy giờ Brahmā—bậc tối thượng trong hàng người biết minh triết thánh—khởi ý định sáng tạo. Nâng lấy Địa Cầu vĩnh cửu ấy, bị nước bao phủ bốn bề, Ngài bắt đầu công cuộc hiển lộ.
Suta Goswami (narrating the cosmogony to the sages; verse describes Brahma’s action)
It establishes the srishti-background: before Linga-installation and Shiva-upasana are taught, the Purana frames creation as an ordered emergence from the primal waters—preparing the theological ground where the Linga later appears as the supreme stabilizing principle (Pati) behind all manifestation.
Though Shiva is not named here, the Shaiva Siddhanta reading treats Brahmā’s creative resolve as secondary and instrumental—creation proceeds within the larger sovereignty of Pati (Shiva), while pashus (souls) remain bound by pasha until Shiva’s grace and right worship are revealed later in the text.
The verse highlights sankalpa (firm resolve) as the seed of action—mirroring the preparatory discipline in Pashupata-oriented practice where purity of intention precedes ritual (puja) and inner yoga.