Shloka 12

प्रणवार्थपद्धतिवर्णनम्

Methodical Explanation of the Meaning of Praṇava/Om

Devanagari script

तदधीनप्रवृत्तित्त्वात्प्रकृतेः पुरुषस्य च । अथवा त्रिगुणन्तत्त्वं मायेयमिदमव्ययम्

Transliteration

tadadhīnapravṛttittvātprakṛteḥ puruṣasya ca | athavā triguṇantattvaṃ māyeyamidamavyayam

Translation

Because both Prakṛti (material nature) and Puruṣa (the individual conscious principle) function only under That (the Supreme Lord’s) governance, this principle is called Māyā. Or again, it is the imperishable reality constituted of the three guṇas.

Word by Word

• tad-adhīna-pravṛtti-tvāt: because of (its) dependent activity/state
• tad-adhīna-pravṛtti-tvāt: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + adhīna (प्रातिपदिक) + pravṛtti (प्रातिपदिक) + -tva (तद्धित/भावप्रत्यय)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; multi-member Tatpuruṣa: ‘because of the state (त्व) of activity (प्रवृत्ति) dependent on that’

• prakṛteḥ: of Prakṛti
• prakṛteḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prakṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• puruṣasya: of Puruṣa (spirit/person)
• puruṣasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय)

• athavā: or/alternatively
• athavā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: athavā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्पार्थक अव्यय)

• tri-guṇam: threefold (of three qualities)
• tri-guṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; Dvigu used adjectivally: ‘having three guṇas’

• tattvam: principle/reality
• tattvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular

• māyā: Māyā
• māyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• iyam: this (fem.)
• iyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st), Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• idam: this (neut.)
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• avyayam: imperishable/unchanging
• avyayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avyaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular

Speaker

Lord Shiva (teaching in Kailāsa to the divine assembly, as preserved in Sūta’s narration)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Prakriti
• Purusha
• Maya

FAQs

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

The verse defines Māyā as the Lord-governed power through which both nature (Prakṛti) and the individual self (Puruṣa/jīva) operate, highlighting that liberation comes by recognizing Shiva (Pati) as the supreme regulator beyond the three guṇas.

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

Linga-worship centers the mind on Shiva as the transcendent Lord who rules the guṇas; by devotion to Saguna Shiva (with form) the devotee gains clarity and steadiness to see Māyā as dependent, not absolute, and to move toward Shiva’s nirguṇa reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is guṇa-transcending japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with disciplined living (sattva-predominant conduct), supported by traditional Shaiva aids like bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa to stabilize awareness on Shiva as the inner governor.