Shloka 14

Devanagari script

स संहारस्त्रिधा प्रोक्तो बुधैर्नित्यादिभेदतः । नित्यो जीवसुषुप्त्याख्यो विधेर्नैमित्तिकः स्मृतः

Transliteration

sa saṃhārastridhā prokto budhairnityādibhedataḥ | nityo jīvasuṣuptyākhyo vidhernaimittikaḥ smṛtaḥ

Translation

The wise declare dissolution (saṃhāra) to be threefold, distinguished as the “eternal” and the other kinds. The eternal dissolution is called the jīva’s state of deep sleep (suṣupti), while the occasional (naimittika) dissolution is said to pertain to Brahmā (Vidhī, the Ordainer).

Word by Word

• saḥ: that
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (प्रथमा/1st case), Ekavacana (एकवचन); सर्वनाम

• saṃhāraḥ: dissolution/withdrawal
• saṃhāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (प्रथमा/1st case), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• tridhā: in three ways
• tridhā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tridhā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय); प्रकारः—संख्यावाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (in three ways)

• proktaḥ: is declared
• proktaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच् धातु) → prokta (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Kta-pratyayānta (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, past passive participle), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (said/declared)

• budhaiḥ: by the wise (sages)
• budhaiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: budha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (तृतीया/3rd case), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन)

• nitya-ādi-bhedataḥ: according to the divisions such as the eternal, etc.
• nitya-ādi-bhedataḥ: Hetu (हेतु/Reason-basis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + bheda (प्रातिपदिक) + tas (अव्यय-तद्धित)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय) formed with -tas (तस्) ablatival adverb; समासः—तत्पुरुषः: 'नित्यादीनां भेदतः' = 'according to the distinctions such as nitya etc.'

• nityaḥ: (one is) eternal
• nityaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• jīva-suṣupty-ākhyaḥ: called 'jīva-sleep' (deep sleep of the individual)
• jīva-suṣupty-ākhyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jīva (प्रातिपदिक) + suṣupti (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; बहुव्रीहिः—'जीवसुषुप्तिः आख्या यस्य' = 'whose name is jīva-sleep (deep-sleep of the individual)'

• vidheḥ: of Brahmā/creator (Vidhi)
• vidheḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (षष्ठी/6th case, Genitive), Ekavacana

• naimittikaḥ: occasional/contingent
• naimittikaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: naimittika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• smṛtaḥ: is regarded/remembered as
• smṛtaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √smṛ (स्मृ धातु) → smṛta (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Kta-pratyayānta (क्त), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (is remembered/considered)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kailasha Samhita’s philosophical teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: pralaya taxonomy (nitya/naimittika implied)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

It frames saṃhāra (reabsorption) as a graded reality: one aspect is an ‘eternal’ dissolution likened to the jīva’s suṣupti, indicating a state where experience subsides yet the soul’s latent bonds remain; thus, true liberation requires Shiva’s grace that removes pāśa (bondage), not merely a temporary quiescence.

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

By distinguishing periodic cosmic dissolution from deeper states affecting the jīva, it points the seeker toward Pati (Shiva) as the transcendent Lord beyond Brahmā’s cycles. Linga-worship and Saguna Shiva-upāsanā are presented in the Purana as means to gain Shiva’s anugraha, which alone leads beyond cyclical dissolution and latent bondage.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate steady Shiva-smarana through japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and meditative withdrawal (pratyāhāra) so that the mind does not mistake mere inner stillness (sleep-like suṣupti) for liberation; complement with Shaiva markers like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa as supports to disciplined sādhanā.