Shloka 1

सृष्टिपद्धतिवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

ईश्वर उवाच । ततः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि सृष्टिपद्धतिमुत्तमाम् । सदाशिवान्महेशादिचतुष्कस्य वरानने

Transliteration

īśvara uvāca | tataḥ paraṃ pravakṣyāmi sṛṣṭipaddhatimuttamām | sadāśivānmaheśādicatuṣkasya varānane

Translation

自在天（Īśvara）说道：“如今，容颜姣美者啊，我将宣说至上的创生次第——那以摩诃伊湿伐罗（Maheśa）为首的四重原理，如何从常住吉祥主（Sadāśiva）流出。”

Word by Word

• ईश्वरः: Īśvara
• ईश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अपादान/क्रमवाचक (ablatival adverb: thereafter/from that)

• परम्: further/next
• परम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोग (adverbial accusative), क्रियाविशेषण

• प्रवक्ष्यामि: I shall explain
• प्रवक्ष्यामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सृष्टिपद्धतिम्: the method/process of creation
• सृष्टिपद्धतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टिपद्धति (प्रातिपदिक: सृष्टि+पद्धति)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: सृष्टेः पद्धतिः

• उत्तमाम्: excellent
• उत्तमाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of sṛṣṭipaddhatim)

• सदाशिवात्: from Sadāśiva
• सदाशिवात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सदाशिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन

• महेशादिचतुष्कस्य: of the group of four beginning with Maheśa
• महेशादिचतुष्कस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेशादिचतुष्क (प्रातिपदिक: महेश+आदि+चतुष्क)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: महेश-आदि (beginning with Maheśa) तेषां चतुष्कम्

• वरानने: O fair-faced one
• वरानने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरानना (प्रातिपदिक: वर+आनना)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: वरम् आननम् यस्याः

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Īśvara)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Cosmogony: emanation of the fourfold principle (catuṣka) from Sadāśiva as part of sṛṣṭi-paddhati.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Īśvara)
• Sadāśiva
• Maheśa
• Parvati (implied by address 'varānane')

FAQs

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

It signals a shift from narrative to metaphysical instruction, where Śiva reveals the highest Shaiva account of creation—tracing manifestation from Sadāśiva to the subsequent divine principles—highlighting Śiva as the conscious source (Pati) behind cosmic order.

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

By presenting creation as proceeding from Sadāśiva into manifest principles (beginning with Maheśa), the verse supports Saguna worship (such as Liṅga-upāsanā) as a valid approach to the same Supreme—Nirguṇa in essence yet revealing as Saguna for grace and guidance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is contemplative: meditate on Śiva as Sadāśiva (the transcendent source) and as Maheśa (the manifest Lord), aligning practice with Panchākṣarī japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to internalize Śiva as the origin and governor of creation.