Shloka 45

बन्धमोक्षवर्णनम्

Bondage and Liberation: The Prakṛti–Karma Wheel and Śiva as the Transcendent Cause

Devanagari script

पर्वतं पौरुषं प्रोक्तं भूतलं प्राकृतं विदुः । वृक्षादि पौरुषं ज्ञेयं गुल्मादि प्राकृतं विदुः

Transliteration

parvataṃ pauruṣaṃ proktaṃ bhūtalaṃ prākṛtaṃ viduḥ | vṛkṣādi pauruṣaṃ jñeyaṃ gulmādi prākṛtaṃ viduḥ

Translation

They declare the mountain to be of the order of Puruṣa (the conscious, presiding principle), while the earth’s ground is known as Prākṛta (of Prakṛti, material nature). Likewise, trees and the like are to be understood as belonging to the Puruṣa-order, whereas shrubs and the like are known as Prākṛta. Thus the Śiva Purāṇa distinguishes the presiding principle (Puruṣa) from the field of nature (Prakṛti), guiding the seeker to discern Pati (Śiva) beyond both.

Word by Word

• पर्वतम्: mountain
• पर्वतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पौरुषम्: pertaining to Puruṣa / personal
• पौरुषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पौरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; adjective agreeing with पर्वतम्; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• प्रोक्तम्: declared (as)
• प्रोक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; Past passive participle; ‘said/declared’

• भूतलम्: earth’s surface / ground
• भूतलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू + तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भू-तल = ‘earth-surface’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• प्राकृतम्: natural / material
• प्राकृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; adjective agreeing with भूतलम्; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• विदुः: they know
• विदुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; Present, 3rd person plural

• वृक्षादि: trees etc.
• वृक्षादि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव/तत्पुरुष-प्राय (‘वृक्ष-आदि’ = ‘trees and the like’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पौरुषम्: pertaining to Puruṣa
• पौरुषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पौरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; adjective agreeing with वृक्षादि; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ज्ञेयम्: should be known (as)
• ज्ञेयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: भाव्य/विधेय कृदन्त (यत्-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; Gerundive: ‘to be known/should be known’

• गुल्मादि: shrubs etc.
• गुल्मादि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुल्म (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: ‘गुल्म-आदि’ = ‘shrubs and the like’, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• प्राकृतम्: natural / material
• प्राकृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; adjective agreeing with गुल्मादि; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• विदुः: they know
• विदुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; Present, 3rd person plural

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Tatpuruṣa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It trains viveka (discernment): some aspects of the world are treated as ‘presided over’ (puruṣa-order) while others are plainly ‘of nature’ (prākṛta), pointing the seeker to recognize that Śiva (Pati) transcends both the presiding principle and material nature.

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

Linga-worship centers the mind on the conscious Lord who is beyond the shifting forms of Prakṛti; this verse supports that orientation by distinguishing the presiding principle from mere materiality, making devotion steadier and more inward.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice contemplative japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while observing nature, repeatedly separating what is changeful (prākṛta) from the witnessing, presiding awareness, and offering both at the Linga as an act of inner renunciation.