Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 10

शक्त्यादिसृष्टिनिरूपणम् / The Account of Creation Beginning with Śakti

Devanagari script

तत्कर्तृकं स्वयं दृष्टं बुद्धिमत्कारणं विना । जगच्च कर्तृसापेक्षं कार्यं सावयवं यतः

Transliteration

tatkartṛkaṃ svayaṃ dṛṣṭaṃ buddhimatkāraṇaṃ vinā | jagacca kartṛsāpekṣaṃ kāryaṃ sāvayavaṃ yataḥ

Translation

此有序之世间，亲见即知乃由一位能作者所成；若无具智之因，决不可能存在。因为宇宙是依赖造作者的果报之物，既由诸部分和合而成。

Word by Word

• tat-kartṛkam: having that as the agent
• tat-kartṛkam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad, kartṛka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• svayam: by itself
• svayam: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: Reflexive Indeclinable

• dṛṣṭam: seen
• dṛṣṭam: Vidheya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Past Passive Participle (kta), Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• buddhimat-kāraṇam: intelligent cause
• buddhimat-kāraṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: buddhimat, kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• vinā: without
• vinā: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vinā (अव्यय)
• Form: Preposition/Particle

• jagat: the world
• jagat: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• kartṛ-sāpekṣam: dependent on an agent
• kartṛ-sāpekṣam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kartṛ, sāpekṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• kāryam: an effect/product
• kāryam: Vidheya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• sāvayavam: having parts
• sāvayavam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa, avayava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• yataḥ: because
• yataḥ: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverbial Particle

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya philosophical teaching to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: teleological argument for a बुद्धिमत् कारण (intelligent cause) behind a composite cosmos

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes a key Shaiva Siddhanta insight: the world is a structured effect and therefore points to Pati (Lord Shiva) as the conscious, intelligent cause who governs bondage (pāśa) and liberates the soul (paśu).

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

By affirming an intelligent maker behind the composite universe, the verse supports approaching Shiva through a tangible focus (Liṅga/Saguṇa upāsanā) so the mind can recognize the transcendent Pati who is ultimately beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditative inquiry (vicāra) during japa of the Pañcākṣarī—"Om Namaḥ Śivāya"—contemplating Shiva as the buddhi-mat-kāraṇa (intelligent cause); optionally supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as aids to steadiness and remembrance.