Shloka 17

प्रकृतितत्त्व-विचारः / Inquiry into Prakṛti (Nature/Śakti) and Śiva’s Transcendence

Devanagari script

इंद्रियाणां गोचरत्वं यावद्भवति देहिनाम् । तावत्सर्वं विमंतव्यं प्राकृतं ज्ञानिभिर्धिया

Transliteration

iṃdriyāṇāṃ gocaratvaṃ yāvadbhavati dehinām | tāvatsarvaṃ vimaṃtavyaṃ prākṛtaṃ jñānibhirdhiyā

Translation

Solange verkörperte Wesen im Bereich der Sinne wandeln, sollen die Weisen—mit klarem Unterscheidungsvermögen—alles dort Erfahrene als bloße Prakṛti, die stoffliche Natur, erkennen, nicht als die höchste Wirklichkeit Śivas.

Word by Word

• indriyāṇām: of the senses
• indriyāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter; Genitive (षष्ठी) Plural

• gocaratvam: the state of being an object/range (of perception)
• gocaratvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gocaratva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter; Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular

• yāvat: as long as
• yāvat: Kāla-pariccheda (काल-परिच्छेद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; correlative limit-marker (यावत् = as long as/so far as)

• bhavati: exists; becomes
• bhavati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्) Present; Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person) Singular; Parasmaipada

• dehinām: of embodied beings
• dehinām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dehin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine; Genitive (षष्ठी) Plural

• tāvat: so long; to that extent
• tāvat: Kāla-pariccheda (काल-परिच्छेद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; correlative (तावत् = so long/that much)

• sarvam: everything
• sarvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter; Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular (object of vimaṃtavyam)

• vimaṃtavyam: should be reflected upon/considered
• vimaṃtavyam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + √man (मन् धातु)
• Form: Kṛtya (gerundive) in -tavya; Neuter; Nominative/Accusative Singular; impersonal obligation/passive sense: 'is to be considered'

• prākṛtam: mundane; natural; ordinary
• prākṛtam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prākṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter; Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular; qualifying sarvam

• jñānibhiḥ: by the wise
• jñānibhiḥ: Kartṛ-karaṇa (कर्ता/करण-भावे तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñānin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine; Instrumental (तृतीया) Plural

• dhiyā: with intellect
• dhiyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine; Instrumental (तृतीया) Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching within the Pārvatīkhaṇḍa context to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches viveka (discernment): whatever is grasped by the senses belongs to Prakṛti and is therefore limited and changing; liberation arises by turning awareness toward Śiva, the transcendent Pati beyond sensory reach.

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

Linga-worship uses a visible form to lead the mind beyond mere sense-enjoyment; the devotee honors Saguna symbols (Linga, mantra, pūjā) while cultivating the insight that ultimate Śiva is not confined to sense-objects.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice sense-restraint and japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with dhyāna on Śiva, using pūjā aids like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) or rudrākṣa to support inwardness rather than outward sense-chasing.