Shloka 15

अद्वैतशैवसिद्धान्ते पुरुष-प्रकृति-विचारः

Puruṣa–Prakṛti Analysis in Advaita Śaiva Doctrine

Devanagari script

भूतादिकादहंकारात्तन्मात्राण्यभवन्क्रमात् । तानि सूक्ष्माणि रूपाणी शब्दादीनामिति स्थितिः

Transliteration

bhūtādikādahaṃkārāttanmātrāṇyabhavankramāt | tāni sūkṣmāṇi rūpāṇī śabdādīnāmiti sthitiḥ

Translation

ومن جانب «بهوتادي» (التمّاسي) من الأَهَنْكارا، أي الأناوية، نشأت التَنماترا على الترتيب. وهي الصورُ اللطيفة، ابتداءً من الشَّبْدا (الصوت) وما بعده؛ هكذا استقرّ النظام.

Word by Word

• भूतादिकात्: from (the principle) beginning with the elements
• भूतादिकात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत-आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (आदि-शब्द), पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: भूतानि आदिः यस्मात्/यत्र

• अहंकारात्: from egoity (ahaṃkāra)
• अहंकारात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहंकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन

• तन्मात्राणि: the tanmātras (subtle elements)
• तन्मात्राणि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तन्-मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: तस्य (तत्) मात्राणि ‘that-only essences’

• अभवन्: came into being
• अभवन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (भूतकाल/Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• क्रमात्: in sequence
• क्रमात्: Hetu/Prakara (हेतु/प्रकार)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे ‘in due order/gradually’ (ablative of manner)

• तानि: those
• तानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• सूक्ष्माणि: subtle
• सूक्ष्माणि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; agreeing with ‘तानि/रूपाणि’

• रूपाणि: forms
• रूपाणि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• शब्दादीनाम्: of sound etc.
• शब्दादीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्द-आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: शब्दः आदिः येषाम् (शब्दादयः)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्तिसूचक-अव्यय (quotative)

• स्थितिः: is the doctrine/position
• स्थितिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shaiva philosophical account to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: tattva-sṛṣṭi (emanational sequence from ahaṅkāra to tanmātras)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It maps how sensory experience begins at a subtle level: tanmātras arise from egoity, showing that bondage starts in identification (ahaṅkāra). Discerning these tattvas supports detachment and turning the awareness toward Pati (Shiva), the transcendent Lord.

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

Linga-worship trains the mind to withdraw from sense-objects (rooted in tanmātras) and rest in Shiva as the inner witness. Saguna Shiva becomes the focus that steadies attention beyond the subtle causes of perception and ego.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice sense-restraint and inner absorption while repeating the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), offering sensory currents back to Shiva; support it with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of dispassion and Shiva-centered awareness.