Shloka 12

प्रकृतितत्त्व-विचारः / Inquiry into Prakṛti (Nature/Śakti) and Śiva’s Transcendence

Devanagari script

तस्मात्त्वया न वक्तव्यं न कार्यं किंचिदेव हि । वचनं रचनं सर्वं प्राकृतं विद्धि चेतसा

Transliteration

tasmāttvayā na vaktavyaṃ na kāryaṃ kiṃcideva hi | vacanaṃ racanaṃ sarvaṃ prākṛtaṃ viddhi cetasā

Translation

C’est pourquoi tu ne dois ni parler, ni accomplir quoi que ce soit. Sache en ton esprit que toute parole et toute construction relèvent de Prakṛti, du domaine mondain, et non de la vérité suprême.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (अव्ययप्रत्यय)
• Form: तस्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival: ‘therefore/from that’)

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/उभयलिङ्ग (pronoun), तृतीया, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय

• वक्तव्यम्: should be spoken
• वक्तव्यम्: Vidhi (विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कर्तव्यता (gerundive); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; निषेध-विधेय

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय

• कार्यम्: a deed/action (to be done)
• कार्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘कर्तव्यं’ अर्थे

• किञ्चित्: anything
• किञ्चित्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (अव्ययप्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अनिश्चितार्थक (indefinite)

• एव: indeed/at all
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic)

• हि: for/indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis/justification)

• वचनम्: speech
• वचनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• रचनम्: composition/creation
• रचनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वचनम्/रचनम्-समाहार-विशेषण

• प्राकृतम्: natural/material
• प्राकृतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वम्-विशेषण

• विद्धि: know (understand)
• विद्धि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/लोट्), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• चेतसा: with the mind
• चेतसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches vairāgya and inner stillness: speech and mental constructions belong to prakṛti (the bond), while liberation is approached by withdrawing into Shiva-consciousness beyond restless expression.

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

Linga-worship trains the mind to move from outer activity to inner absorption; by reducing worldly talk and contrivance, the devotee becomes fit for steadier dhyāna on Saguna Shiva, which ripens into awareness of the transcendent.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice mauna (disciplined silence) with japa of the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and steady dhyāna—letting go of unnecessary speech and actions to stabilize the mind.