Shloka 60

Paramātma-Svarūpa-Nirṇaya: Strī–Puṃ–Napuṃsaka-Vicāra

Inquiry into the Supreme Self and Gendered Forms

Devanagari script

प्रतिष्ठा च निवृत्तिश्च वाम सद्योद्भवे मते । ईशाच्चिच्छक्तिमुखतो विभोर्मिथुनपञ्चकम्

Transliteration

pratiṣṭhā ca nivṛttiśca vāma sadyodbhave mate | īśāccicchaktimukhato vibhormithunapañcakam

Translation

According to the doctrine, Pratiṣṭhā and Nivṛtti are assigned to Vāma and Sadyojāta. From Īśāna onward—beginning with Cit-Śakti—there is thus taught the Lord’s set of five paired principles (mithuna-pañcaka).

Word by Word

• प्रतिष्ठा: establishment
• प्रतिष्ठा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• निवृत्तिः: withdrawal; cessation
• निवृत्तिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निवृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• वाम: in Vāma (aspect)
• वाम: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; (वामे इति अर्थः)

• सद्यः-उद्भवे: in Sadyodbhava (immediate arising)
• सद्यः-उद्भवे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सद्यः (अव्यय) + उद्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; (सद्यः उद्भवः यस्मिन्/यत्र)

• मते: in the view/doctrine
• मते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘मते’ = in the doctrine/opinion

• ईशात्: from Īśa
• ईशात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• चित्-शक्ति-मुखतः: from the face/front of Cit-Śakti
• चित्-शक्ति-मुखतः: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चित् (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (चित्शक्तेः मुखम्) + तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय ‘मुखतः’ (ablatival adverb: from the face/front); अव्यय

• विभोः: of the Lord (Vibhu)
• विभोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• मिथुन-पञ्चकम्: the set of five pairs
• मिथुन-पञ्चकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मिथुन (प्रातिपदिक) + पञ्चक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मिथुनानां पञ्चकम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kailasa Samhita teaching to the sages in a doctrinal summary)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It maps specific liberating powers (Pratiṣṭhā—stability in truth, and Nivṛtti—turning back from bondage) to Śiva’s cosmic aspects, showing that liberation is guided by the Lord’s ordered manifestations and their Śaktis.

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

In Linga/Saguna worship, devotees contemplate Śiva’s manifest aspects (such as Vāma, Sadyojāta, and Īśāna) along with their corresponding energies; this verse supports that structured contemplation as a valid means to approach the Supreme.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as the all-pervading Lord with the fivefold doctrine—invoking his aspects and Śaktis—while repeating the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to cultivate nivṛtti (inward withdrawal) and pratiṣṭhā (steadfast establishment in Śiva).