Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

सा शक्तिः प्रकृतिर्ज्ञेया सर्वेषामपि कर्मणाम् । तया विरच्यते सर्वं पाल्यते च विनाश्यते

Transliteration

sā śaktiḥ prakṛtirjñeyā sarveṣāmapi karmaṇām | tayā viracyate sarvaṃ pālyate ca vināśyate

Translation

Diese Macht ist als Prakṛti zu erkennen, die wirkende Energie hinter allen Handlungen. Durch Sie wird das ganze Universum gestaltet, erhalten und schließlich auch zur Auflösung geführt.

Word by Word

• सा: she / that (f.)
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative singular

• शक्तिः: power, energy
• शक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative singular

• प्रकृतिः: nature, primordial matter
• प्रकृतिः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative singular; apposition to शक्तिः

• ज्ञेया: is to be known
• ज्ञेया: Vidheyavisheshana (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + यत् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/future passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'to be known'

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; genitive plural

• अपि: also / indeed
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय; inclusive/emphatic

• कर्मणाम्: of actions/deeds
• कर्मणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; genitive plural

• तया: by her / by that
• तया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; instrumental singular

• विरच्यते: is created
• विरच्यते: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + रच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; 'is fashioned/created'

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; here as passive subject (nominative)

• पाल्यते: is maintained
• पाल्यते: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पाल् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; 'is protected/maintained'

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय; conjunction

• विनाश्यते: is destroyed
• विनाश्यते: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + नश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; 'is destroyed'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that cosmic activity—creation, maintenance, and dissolution—operates through Śakti as Prakṛti, while Shiva is understood as the supreme Lord (Pati) who transcends and empowers that process; discerning this helps loosen bondage to karma and supports liberation.

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

Linga worship honors Shiva as the transcendent ground of being, while acknowledging that the manifest universe functions through His Śakti; devotion to Saguna Shiva naturally includes reverence for the Divine Power that performs the world-process.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva-Śakti unity while japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and offer Tripuṇḍra bhasma with the intent of seeing all actions as empowered by Śakti and surrendered to Shiva.