Shloka 19

Kāla-vañcana (Overcoming/Outwitting Time) and the Pañcabhūta Basis of the Body

Devanagari script

तदा गुणं विगृह्णाति प्रादुर्भूतं तदुच्यते । एवं जानीहि देवेशि पंचभूतानि तत्त्वतः

Transliteration

tadā guṇaṃ vigṛhṇāti prādurbhūtaṃ taducyate | evaṃ jānīhi deveśi paṃcabhūtāni tattvataḥ

Translation

Then it assumes a distinct quality; that is what is called “manifest.” Thus, O Goddess, understand the five great elements in their true principles.

Word by Word

• तदा: then
• तदा: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• गुणम्: quality; guṇa
• गुणम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• विगृह्णाति: grasps; takes up; apprehends
• विगृह्णाति: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• प्रादुर्भूतम्: manifested; arisen
• प्रादुर्भूतम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रादुर्-भू (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle, क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying)

• तत्: that (it)
• तत्: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• उच्यते: is said; is called
• उच्यते: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• एवम्: thus; in this way
• एवम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (manner adverb)

• जानीहि: know; understand
• जानीहि: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd), एकवचन

• देवेशि: O goddess, ruler of gods
• देवेशि: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव-ईशि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: देवस्य ईशि (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन

• पञ्चभूतानि: the five elements
• पञ्चभूतानि: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च-भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: पञ्च (संख्या) + भूत (द्विगु-समास); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तत्त्वतः: in reality; truly
• तत्त्वतः: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): 'in truth/according to reality'

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that “manifestation” is recognized when a tattva becomes defined by a specific guṇa (functional attribute), guiding the seeker to discern the five elements as principles within Shiva’s orderly creation.

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

By clarifying how the elements and their qualities arise, the verse supports Saguna Shiva worship: the Linga is revered as Shiva immanent in the manifest world while remaining the transcendent Pati beyond all tattvas.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is tattva-vicāra (contemplation on earth–water–fire–air–ether and their guṇas) during japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” using the insight to detach from elemental identifications.