Shloka 2

सृष्टिपद्धतिवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

सदाशिवस्समष्टिस्स्यादाकाशधिपतिः प्रभुः । अस्यैव व्यष्टितापन्नम्महेशादिचतुष्टयम्

Transliteration

sadāśivassamaṣṭissyādākāśadhipatiḥ prabhuḥ | asyaiva vyaṣṭitāpannammaheśādicatuṣṭayam

Translation

常住吉祥主（Sadāśiva）是圆满不分的总体（samasti），为主宰遍在虚空（ākāśa）之大自在者。唯由祂一者，当示现为差别的个别相（vyashti）时，便生起以摩诃伊湿伐罗（Maheśa）为首的四重体系。

Word by Word

• सदाशिवः: Sadāśiva
• सदाशिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सदाशिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (सदा + शिव)

• समष्टिः: the collective (totality)
• समष्टिः: Pradhana (प्रधान/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• स्यात्: would be / is (as a statement)
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• आकाश-अधिपतिः: lord of the sky/ether
• आकाश-अधिपतिः: Pradhana (प्रधान/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (आकाशस्य अधिपतिः)

• प्रभुः: the Lord
• प्रभुः: Pradhana (प्रधान/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• अस्य: of him/this (of Sadāśiva)
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• व्यष्टिताम्: individuality/particularization
• व्यष्टिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यष्टिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• आपन्नम्: having attained / entered into
• आपन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आपन्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √आपद् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/क्तवत्-भाव), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘व्यष्टिताम्’ इति कर्मणि विशेषणम्

• महेश-आदि-चतुष्टयम्: the group of four beginning with Maheśa
• महेश-आदि-चतुष्टयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + चतुष्टय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (महेशादि = महेशः आदिः यस्य तत्; तत् + चतुष्टयम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kailāsa-saṃhitā discourse to the sages, conveying Shaiva metaphysics)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Emanation from samaṣṭi (undivided totality) to vyaṣṭi (differentiated modes) as the metaphysical basis of creation.

Characters & Entities

• Sadāśiva
• Maheśa

FAQs

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

It teaches that the Supreme Sadāśiva is the undivided Reality (samaṣṭi), while the many divine functions and forms arise as differentiated expressions (vyaṣṭi). This supports a Shaiva view where liberation comes by recognizing the One Lord behind all manifested powers.

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

The verse frames Saguna manifestations (like Maheśa and other aspects) as emanations of Sadāśiva. Linga-worship, central to the Shiva Purana, is a practical way to worship the One beyond form through a sacred form that gathers all divine functions into a single focus.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Sadāśiva as all-pervading (ākāśa-like) while performing Shiva-pūjā—especially japa of the Panchākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—seeing all forms and powers as expressions of the one Lord.