Shloka 8

अद्वैतशैवसिद्धान्ते पुरुष-प्रकृति-विचारः

Puruṣa–Prakṛti Analysis in Advaita Śaiva Doctrine

Devanagari script

सत्त्वादिगुणसाध्यं च बुध्यादित्रितयात्मकम् । चित्तम्प्रकृतितत्त्वं तदासीत्सत्त्वादिकारणात्

Transliteration

sattvādiguṇasādhyaṃ ca budhyāditritayātmakam | cittamprakṛtitattvaṃ tadāsītsattvādikāraṇāt

Translation

Citta (mind-stuff) is an evolute of Prakṛti: it is produced through the guṇas beginning with sattva, and it is constituted of the triad beginning with buddhi (intellect). It arises through the causal operation of those guṇas (sattva and the rest).

Word by Word

• सत्त्व-आदि-गुण-साध्यम्: to be effected by the guṇas beginning with sattva
• सत्त्व-आदि-गुण-साध्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + साध्य (कृदन्त; साध् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समासः — ‘सत्त्वादिगुणैः साध्यम्’ (instrumental sense)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• बुद्धि-आदि-त्रितय-आत्मकम्: having the nature of the triad beginning with buddhi
• बुद्धि-आदि-त्रितय-आत्मकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रितय (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समासः — ‘बुद्ध्यादित्रितयस्य आत्मा/स्वरूपम्’

• चित्तम्: mind-stuff (citta)
• चित्तम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रकृति-तत्त्वम्: the principle of prakṛti
• प्रकृति-तत्त्वम्: Samanaadhikarana/Predicate (विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समासः — ‘प्रकृतेः तत्त्वम्’

• तत्: that
• तत्: Anvaya (अन्वय/संदर्भ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपदम्

• सत्त्व-आदि-कारणात्: from the cause consisting of sattva etc.
• सत्त्व-आदि-कारणात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समासः — ‘सत्त्वादीनां कारणात्’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Prakriti

FAQs

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

It explains that the mind (citta) is a product of Prakṛti and the guṇas, implying it is changeful and bindable; liberation in a Shaiva Siddhanta sense comes by turning from guṇa-born mind toward Pati (Śiva), the transcendent Lord.

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

Linga/Saguṇa-Śiva worship disciplines the guṇa-driven citta—making it sattvic and steady—so devotion can mature into knowledge that Śiva is distinct from Prakṛti and its tattvas.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with dhyāna to purify the guṇa-born citta; wearing Rudrākṣa and applying Tripuṇḍra-bhasma support steadiness and sāttvika orientation in practice.