Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 46

Devanagari script

वैकारिकस्तृतीयश्च इत्येते प्रकृतास्त्रयः । एवं चाष्टविधास्सर्गाः प्रकृतेर्वेकृतैः सह

Transliteration

vaikārikastṛtīyaśca ityete prakṛtāstrayaḥ | evaṃ cāṣṭavidhāssargāḥ prakṛtervekṛtaiḥ saha

Translation

„Das dritte heißt Vaikārika; so sind diese drei die Prākṛta-Schöpfungen (aus der Natur geboren). Auf diese Weise werden, zusammen mit den Vaikṛta-Schöpfungen (den veränderten), die Hervorgänge der Prakṛti als achtfach bezeichnet.“

Word by Word

• वैकारिकः: vaikārika (pertaining to transformation)
• वैकारिकः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैकारिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (सर्गः)

• तृतीयः: the third
• तृतीयः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृतीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (सर्गः)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात

• इति: thus
• इति: वाक्यसमाप्ति/उद्धरण (Quotative/इति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समाप्त्यर्थक/उद्धरणसूचक

• एते: these
• एते: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘these’

• प्रकृताः: (are) primary/natural
• प्रकृताः: विधेय-विशेषण (Predicate adjective/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त/विशेषण (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘प्रकृत’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘natural/primary’

• त्रयः: three
• त्रयः: कर्ता (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक-नाम (three)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (thus)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात

• अष्ट-विधाः: eightfold
• अष्ट-विधाः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्ट (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; द्विगु-समासः (अष्टविधाः = eightfold) विशेषणम् (सर्गाः)

• सर्गाः: creations
• सर्गाः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• प्रकृतेः: of Prakṛti
• प्रकृतेः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; ‘of Prakṛti’

• वैकृतैः: with the modified (ones)
• वैकृतैः: सहकारक/सहयोग (Association/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘with the secondary/modified (creations)’

• सह: together with
• सह: सहकारक (Comitative/सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, सहार्थक (with)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Purāṇic cosmology to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: eightfold sarga framework (prakṛta triad plus vaikṛta evolutes)

Characters & Entities

• Prakriti

FAQs

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

It frames creation as an ordered unfolding of Prakṛti (nature) into distinct categories, reminding the seeker that the manifest world is a product of evolutes; recognizing this supports dispassion and turning toward Pati (Śiva), the transcendent Lord beyond Prakṛti.

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

By distinguishing Prakṛti and its evolutions, the verse indirectly points to Śiva as the supreme ground who is not limited to created categories; Linga-worship centers the mind on that Pati who pervades creation yet remains beyond it, making Saguna worship a doorway to realizing the transcendent.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is tattva-vicāra (contemplation on the evolutes of Prakṛti) alongside japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—to steady the mind and shift identity from the created (prakṛta/vaikṛta) to the Lord (Śiva).