Shloka 24

पार्वतीप्रार्थना—हिमवत्पार्श्वे भिक्षुरूपेण याचनम् | Pārvatī’s Request: Śiva to Seek Her in Beggar-Form at Himālaya’s Court

Devanagari script

त्वं हि वै प्रकृतिस्सूक्ष्मा रजस्सत्त्वतमोमयी । व्यापारदक्षा सततं सगुणा निर्गुणापि च

Transliteration

tvaṃ hi vai prakṛtissūkṣmā rajassattvatamomayī | vyāpāradakṣā satataṃ saguṇā nirguṇāpi ca

Translation

You indeed are the subtle Prakṛti, constituted of rajas, sattva, and tamas. Ever skilled in bringing forth activity, you are both with attributes (saguṇā) and also beyond attributes (nirguṇā).

Word by Word

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; बलार्थ/हेत्वर्थ-प्रयोगः

• वै: certainly
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle), अव्यय

• प्रकृतिः: Prakṛti / primordial nature
• प्रकृतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सूक्ष्मा: subtle
• सूक्ष्मा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying प्रकृतिः)

• रजः-सत्त्व-तमः-मयी: consisting of rajas, sattva, and tamas
• रजः-सत्त्व-तमः-मयी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रजस् (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + तमस् (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—रजःसत्त्वतमः (द्वन्द्व-समाहारः) + मयी (मयट्/मयिन्-प्रत्ययार्थः ‘consisting of’) इति तत्पुरुष-प्रायः; विशेषणम् (प्रकृतिः)

• व्यापार-दक्षा: skilled in activity/operations
• व्यापार-दक्षा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यापार (प्रातिपदिक) + दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—व्यापारे दक्षः/दक्षा इति सप्तमी/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः; विशेषणम् (प्रकृतिः)

• सततम्: always/constantly
• सततम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत्)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• स-गुणा: with qualities (saguṇa)
• स-गुणा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—गुणैः सह इति अव्ययीभाव-प्रायः/तत्पुरुष-प्रयोगः; विशेषणम् (प्रकृतिः)

• निर्गुणा: without qualities (nirguṇa)
• निर्गुणा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् (उपसर्ग) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (प्रकृतिः)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपवादार्थ

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Pārvatī (addressing the Divine Power/Śakti as Prakṛti in praise, within the Rudrasaṃhitā narrative)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Prakriti
• Sattva
• Rajas
• Tamas

FAQs

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

It identifies the Divine Power as subtle Prakṛti—the source of manifest experience through the three guṇas—while affirming a higher transcendence beyond guṇas. In Shaiva Siddhānta language, it points to the interplay of Śakti in manifestation and the ultimate reality that is not limited by material qualities.

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

Saguṇa worship (such as Liṅga-pūjā) approaches the Divine through attributes—form, mantra, and ritual—within the realm where guṇas operate. This verse reminds the devotee that while worship begins in the manifest (saguṇa), its fruit is realization of the transcendence (nirguṇa) that Shiva embodies, with Śakti as the power of revelation and transformation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is guṇa-observation meditation: witness sattva/rajas/tamas arising in the mind during japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), offering them into the Liṅga as worship—moving from saguṇa devotion toward nirguṇa contemplation.