Shloka 11

सृष्टिवर्णनम्

Cosmogony and the Roles of the Trimūrti

Devanagari script

आपो नारा इति प्रोक्ता आपो वै नरसूनवः । अयनं तस्य ताः पूर्वं तेन नारायणः स्मृतः

Transliteration

āpo nārā iti proktā āpo vai narasūnavaḥ | ayanaṃ tasya tāḥ pūrvaṃ tena nārāyaṇaḥ smṛtaḥ

Translation

“水”被称为“nārā”；诚然，诸水被说为那罗（Nara）之子嗣。起初它们是他的安卧之处（ayana）；因此他被忆念为“那罗延”（Nārāyaṇa）。

Word by Word

• आपः: waters
• आपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्/आप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/1st), बहुवचन

• नाराः: nārā-s (as a name)
• नाराः: Pratipadya (प्रातिपाद्य/नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उद्धरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक (quotative particle)

• प्रोक्ताः: are called
• प्रोक्ताः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मणि-भावः — ‘are called/said’

• आपः: waters
• आपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्/आप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात — emphasis/assurance

• नर-सूनवः: sons of Nara
• नर-सूनवः: Samana-adhikarana (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक) + सूनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नराणां सूनवः)

• अयनम्: abode/resting place
• अयनम्: Pratipadya (प्रातिपाद्य/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (अत्र प्रथमा—‘abode/resting-place’)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/6th), एकवचन

• ताः: those (waters)
• ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/1st), बहुवचन

• पूर्वम्: formerly/at first
• पूर्वम्: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभूतम् (accusative used adverbially); काल-अव्यय — ‘formerly/first’

• तेन: therefore/by that
• तेन: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, तृतीया (करण/3rd), एकवचन; हेतौ — ‘therefore/by that’

• नारायणः: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नार (प्रातिपदिक) + अयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नाराणाम् अयनम् यस्य/नाराणाम् अयनः)

• स्मृतः: is known/remembered
• स्मृतः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि — ‘is remembered/called’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: primordial waters as first locus (ayana) for the sustaining principle named Nārāyaṇa

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Narayana
• Nara
• Apah (cosmic waters)

FAQs

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

It explains a cosmological etymology—how the divine name “Nārāyaṇa” is connected with the primordial waters as an abode—while, in the Uma-saṃhitā’s Shaiva frame, such cosmic functions remain within the governance of the Supreme Pati (Śiva) who transcends and regulates creation.

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

By describing the cosmos (waters and abodes) as structured and named, the text points to an ordered manifestation (saguṇa domain). Liṅga-worship centers the devotee on Śiva as the ultimate ground beyond names and forms, even while honoring other divine names like Nārāyaṇa within the manifested order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is contemplative japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while reflecting that all cosmic supports—waters, worlds, and divine abodes—are upheld by Śiva; this cultivates vairāgya and steadiness in Saguna-to-Nirguna devotion.