Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

पृथिव्यापस्तथा तेजो वायुराकाशमेव च । एतेषां हि समायोगः शरीरं पांचभौतिकम्

Transliteration

pṛthivyāpastathā tejo vāyurākāśameva ca | eteṣāṃ hi samāyogaḥ śarīraṃ pāṃcabhautikam

Translation

Earth, water, fire, air, and also ether—indeed, the body is formed from the union of these; thus the embodied form is constituted of the five elements.

Word by Word

• पृथिवी: earth
• पृथिवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• आपः: waters
• आपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (plural tantum)

• तथा: and also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/अन्वयार्थक (connector: 'and/also')

• तेजः: fire/energy
• तेजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वायुः: wind/air
• वायुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• आकाशम्: ether/space
• आकाशम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण (particle of emphasis)

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

• एतेषाम्: of these
• एतेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle: 'indeed/for')

• समायोगः: combination/union
• समायोगः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम् + आ + युज् (धातु) → समायोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• शरीरम्: body
• शरीरम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पाञ्चभौतिकम्: made of the five elements
• पाञ्चभौतिकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च + भौतिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective) शरीरम्-विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Shiva (teaching Umā/Parvati in the Umāsaṃhitā’s philosophical discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It identifies the body as a temporary five-element compound, encouraging viveka (discernment) so the seeker turns from identification with matter (pāśa) toward Shiva, the eternal Pati.

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

By showing the body is elemental and changing, the verse supports Linga-worship as anchoring devotion in the changeless Lord; Saguna Shiva is approached through worship while realizing He transcends the elements.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on the body as pañcabhūta and repeat the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to cultivate dis-identification from the elements, supported by Shaiva disciplines like bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and Rudraksha where practiced.