Shloka 38

Ṣaḍvidhārtha-Parijñāna: Praṇavārtha and the Sixfold Unity of Meaning (षड्विधार्थपरिज्ञानम् / प्रणवार्थपरिज्ञानम्)

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मभ्य एवं संजाता निवृत्त्याद्याः कला मताः । सूक्ष्मभूतस्वरूपिण्यः कारणत्वेन विश्रुताः

Transliteration

brahmabhya evaṃ saṃjātā nivṛttyādyāḥ kalā matāḥ | sūkṣmabhūtasvarūpiṇyaḥ kāraṇatvena viśrutāḥ

Translation

Thus, from Brahman arise the kalās beginning with Nivṛtti. They are regarded as subtle principles taking the form of the tanmātras (subtle elements) and are renowned as the causal bases of manifestation.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मभ्यः: from Brahman
• ब्रह्मभ्यः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), बहुवचन

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• संजाताः: arisen/produced
• संजाताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्+जन् (धातु) → संजात (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘कलाः’ इति विशेषण

• निवृत्ति-आद्याः: beginning with Nivṛtti
• निवृत्ति-आद्याः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निवृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (आदि-शब्देन ‘beginning with’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘कलाः’ इति विशेषण

• कलाः: parts/kalās (aspects)
• कलाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• मताः: are considered
• मताः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु) → मत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थः—‘(इति) मताः’ = ‘are considered’

• सूक्ष्म-भूत-स्वरूपिण्यः: having the nature of subtle elements
• सूक्ष्म-भूत-स्वरूपिण्यः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वरूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘कलाः’ इति विशेषण

• कारणत्वेन: as a cause/causally
• कारणत्वेन: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कारणत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति एकवचनस्य अव्ययीभावार्थे प्रयोगः (instrumental used adverbially: ‘as/ in the capacity of’); भाववाचक-तद्धितान्त (त्व)

• विश्रुताः: well-known/renowned
• विश्रुताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि+श्रु (धातु) → विश्रुत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘कलाः’ इति विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahman

FAQs

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

It maps the causal structure of bondage and manifestation: the kalās (starting with Nivṛtti) arise from the supreme source and function as subtle causal principles. In Shaiva Siddhanta, knowing these as “causes” helps the seeker discriminate Pati (Shiva) from pasha (limiting principles) and move toward liberation.

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

Linga-worship centers the mind on Pati, the Lord beyond the subtle causal layers described here. By devotion to Saguna Shiva (as Linga), the aspirant transcends identification with the tanmātras and other tattvas, recognizing them as dependent causes rather than the ultimate reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is tattva-śuddhi (inner purification): meditate on Shiva while mentally withdrawing from sensory subtle causes (tanmātras), supported by japa of the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and steady dhyāna on the Linga.