Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 44

हंस-वराह-रूपग्रहण-कारणम्

The Reason for Assuming the Swan and Boar Forms

Devanagari script

महादेवाज्ञया सर्गस्ततो भूतादिकोऽभवत् । इति पंचविधा सृष्टिः प्रवृत्ता वै कृता मया

Transliteration

mahādevājñayā sargastato bhūtādiko'bhavat | iti paṃcavidhā sṛṣṭiḥ pravṛttā vai kṛtā mayā

Translation

依大天（Mahādeva）的圣命，创化之流遂得开展；继而，以诸元素为始的万有之生亦告出现。由是，此五重之创造，皆由我发动并完成。

Word by Word

• महादेव-आज्ञया: by Mahādeva’s command
• महादेव-आज्ञया: करण/हेतु (Instrument/Cause/करण-हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक) + आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (महादेवस्य आज्ञा)

• सर्गः: creation / emanation
• सर्गः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ततः: then
• ततः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रम/अपादानार्थक (then/from that)

• भूत-आदिकः: beginning with the elements
• भूत-आदिकः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (भूतानि आदिः यस्य / भूतादिः) विशेषणम् (सर्गः)

• अभवत्: came to be
• अभवत्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: वाक्यसमाप्ति/उद्धरण (Quotative/इति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, इत्यादि-समाप्त्यर्थक/उद्धरणसूचक (quotative/thus)

• पञ्च-विधा: fivefold
• पञ्च-विधा: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + विधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (पञ्चविधा = fivefold) विशेषणम् (सृष्टिः)

• सृष्टिः: creation
• सृष्टिः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रवृत्ता: commenced
• प्रवृत्ता: विधेय-विशेषण (Predicate adjective/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + वृत् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘प्रवृत्ता’ = set in motion/commenced

• वै: indeed
• वै: सम्बन्धसूचक (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• कृता: made
• कृता: विधेय-विशेषण (Predicate adjective/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘made/done’ (सृष्टिः इति विशेष्य)

• मया: by me
• मया: कर्ता (Agent in passive/कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘by me’

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: sṛṣṭi-ārambha (commencement of emanation of bhūtas under Mahādeva’s ājñā)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Mahadeva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It establishes Śiva (Mahādeva) as the supreme Lord (Pati) whose command empowers creation; even Brahmā functions as an instrument, highlighting surrender to Śiva’s will as the root of spiritual understanding.

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

Since creation unfolds by Mahādeva’s ājñā, Saguna worship—especially of the Śiva-liṅga—centers devotion on the conscious Lord who directs the cosmos, not merely on material elements or secondary powers.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is ājñā-anusandhāna (contemplation of the Lord’s governance): worship the liṅga with vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and repeat the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offering one’s actions as service to Mahādeva’s command.