Shloka 68

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

Inquiry into the Supreme Self and Gendered Forms

Devanagari script

पृथिवीतत्त्वमारभ्य शिवतत्त्वावधि क्रमात् । निलीय तत्त्वसंदोहे जीव एव विलीयते

Transliteration

pṛthivītattvamārabhya śivatattvāvadhi kramāt | nilīya tattvasaṃdohe jīva eva vilīyate

Translation

Beginning with the earth-principle and proceeding step by step up to the Śiva-principle, when one enters and is absorbed into the aggregate of tattvas, the individual soul (jīva) itself is dissolved—its sense of separateness subsiding in Śiva.

Word by Word

• pṛthivī-tattvam: the earth-tattva (earth principle)
• pṛthivī-tattvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛthivī (प्रातिपदिक) + tattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative Singular); कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषभावः—‘पृथिव्याः तत्त्वम्’ (earth-principle)

• ārabhya: starting from
• ārabhya: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā-rabh (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive) = ‘having begun from/starting from’

• śiva-tattva-avadhi: up to the limit of Śiva-tattva
• śiva-tattva-avadhi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + tattva (प्रातिपदिक) + avadhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative Singular); ‘शिवतत्त्वम्’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष, तस्य ‘अवधिः’ = up to the limit of Śiva-tattva

• kramāt: in sequence
• kramāt: Hetu/Prakāra (हेतु/प्रकार)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Ablative Singular); अव्ययीभावार्थे प्रयोगः—‘क्रमात्’ = in due order/step by step

• nilīya: having merged
• nilīya: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ni-lī (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्-अव्यय (Gerund) = ‘having merged/entered’

• tattva-saṃdohe: in the aggregate of tattvas
• tattva-saṃdohe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tattva (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃdoha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Locative Singular); ‘तत्त्वानां संदोहः’ (collection of tattvas)

• jīvaḥ: the individual soul
• jīvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative Singular)

• eva: indeed/alone
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण-निपात (particle of emphasis/restriction)

• vilīyate: dissolves/merges
• vilīyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-lī (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; धातु—ली (to dissolve/merge) उपसर्ग—वि

Speaker

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

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: tattva-laya (involution of the jīva’s separative sense through the tattva-aggregate up to Śiva-tattva)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches laya (dissolution) of limited individuality by progressively transcending the tattvas—from gross earth up to Śiva-tattva—so the jīva’s separateness (pāśa-bound identity) subsides in Pati, Lord Śiva.

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

Linga-worship trains the mind to move from gross support (form) to subtle reality (Śiva-tattva). Saguna devotion steadies attention, and through inner absorption the seeker realizes the supreme Śiva beyond limiting principles.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is tattva-śuddhi with japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and dhyāna on the Śiva-liṅga, letting attention withdraw step-by-step from gross elements toward stillness in Śiva.