Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

इंद्रियाणां गोचरत्वं यावद्भवति देहिनाम् । तावत्सर्वं विमंतव्यं प्राकृतं ज्ञानिभिर्धिया

Transliteration

iṃdriyāṇāṃ gocaratvaṃ yāvadbhavati dehinām | tāvatsarvaṃ vimaṃtavyaṃ prākṛtaṃ jñānibhirdhiyā

Translation

Tant que les êtres incarnés demeurent dans le champ des sens, les sages—par un discernement limpide—doivent comprendre que tout ce qui y est éprouvé n’est que Prakṛti (la nature matérielle), et non la Réalité suprême de Śiva.

Word by Word

• indriyāṇām: of the senses
• indriyāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter; Genitive (षष्ठी) Plural

• gocaratvam: the state of being an object/range (of perception)
• gocaratvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gocaratva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter; Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular

• yāvat: as long as
• yāvat: Kāla-pariccheda (काल-परिच्छेद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; correlative limit-marker (यावत् = as long as/so far as)

• bhavati: exists; becomes
• bhavati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्) Present; Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person) Singular; Parasmaipada

• dehinām: of embodied beings
• dehinām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dehin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine; Genitive (षष्ठी) Plural

• tāvat: so long; to that extent
• tāvat: Kāla-pariccheda (काल-परिच्छेद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; correlative (तावत् = so long/that much)

• sarvam: everything
• sarvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter; Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular (object of vimaṃtavyam)

• vimaṃtavyam: should be reflected upon/considered
• vimaṃtavyam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + √man (मन् धातु)
• Form: Kṛtya (gerundive) in -tavya; Neuter; Nominative/Accusative Singular; impersonal obligation/passive sense: 'is to be considered'

• prākṛtam: mundane; natural; ordinary
• prākṛtam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prākṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter; Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular; qualifying sarvam

• jñānibhiḥ: by the wise
• jñānibhiḥ: Kartṛ-karaṇa (कर्ता/करण-भावे तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñānin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine; Instrumental (तृतीया) Plural

• dhiyā: with intellect
• dhiyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine; Instrumental (तृतीया) Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching within the Pārvatīkhaṇḍa context to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches viveka (discernment): whatever is grasped by the senses belongs to Prakṛti and is therefore limited and changing; liberation arises by turning awareness toward Śiva, the transcendent Pati beyond sensory reach.

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

Linga-worship uses a visible form to lead the mind beyond mere sense-enjoyment; the devotee honors Saguna symbols (Linga, mantra, pūjā) while cultivating the insight that ultimate Śiva is not confined to sense-objects.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice sense-restraint and japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with dhyāna on Śiva, using pūjā aids like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) or rudrākṣa to support inwardness rather than outward sense-chasing.