Shloka 18
अद्वैतशैवसिद्धान्ते पुरुष-प्रकृति-विचारः
Puruṣa–Prakṛti Analysis in Advaita Śaiva Doctrine
वामदेव उवाच । भूतसृष्टिः पुरा प्रोक्ता कलादिभ्यः कथम्पुनः । अन्यथा प्रोच्यते स्कन्द संदेहोऽत्र महान्मम
vāmadeva uvāca | bhūtasṛṣṭiḥ purā proktā kalādibhyaḥ kathampunaḥ | anyathā procyate skanda saṃdeho'tra mahānmama
Vāmadeva dit : «Auparavant, on a enseigné que la création des êtres provenait des kalā et des autres principes. Comment se fait-il donc qu’à présent on l’explique autrement, ô Skanda ? Sur ce point, un grand doute s’est levé en moi.»
Vāmadeva
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Vāmadeva
FAQs
It highlights a key Shaiva approach to scripture: apparent contradictions in cosmology are invitations to discern deeper truth—Shiva (Pati) transcends all tattvas, while creation can be described through different valid frameworks depending on the teaching context.
By questioning the mechanism of creation, the verse indirectly points to the Linga as the stable symbol of Shiva beyond changing explanations—Saguna forms teach and guide, while the Linga signifies the one source from whom all kalās and elements proceed.
A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with tattva-viveka (discriminative contemplation): reflect that all manifested categories (kalā, tattvas, elements) are dependent, while Shiva alone is the independent Lord.