Shloka 31

अद्वैतशैवसिद्धान्ते पुरुष-प्रकृति-विचारः

Puruṣa–Prakṛti Analysis in Advaita Śaiva Doctrine

Devanagari script

तरुगुल्मलतौषध्यः पर्वताश्चाष्ट विश्रुताः । गंगाद्यास्सरितस्सप्त सागराश्च महर्द्धयः

Transliteration

tarugulmalatauṣadhyaḥ parvatāścāṣṭa viśrutāḥ | gaṃgādyāssaritassapta sāgarāśca maharddhayaḥ

Translation

樹木・灌木・蔓草・薬草、名高き八つの山々、ガンガー（Gaṅgā）に始まる七つの河川、そして壮麗なる大海——これらすべては、顕現した世界秩序の名高き構成要素として語られ、主シヴァ（Śiva）の主権のもとに支え保たれている。

Word by Word

• तरु-गुल्म-लता-औषध्यः: trees, shrubs, creepers, and herbs
• तरु-गुल्म-लता-औषध्यः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तरु+गुल्म+लता+औषधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (तरवश्च गुल्माश्च लताश्च औषध्यश्च)

• पर्वताः: mountains
• पर्वताः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अष्ट: eight
• अष्ट: विशेषण (Numeral qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन् (संख्याशब्द/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; (अव्ययवत्) प्रथमा/द्वितीया-समर्थ, बहुवचनार्थे; 'eight' qualifying पर्वताः

• विश्रुताः: well-known
• विश्रुताः: विधेय-विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि+श्रु (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—भूतकालिक कृदन्त (PPP/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• गङ्गाद्याः: Gaṅgā and others
• गङ्गाद्याः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गादि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (गङ्गा+आदि)

• सरितः: rivers
• सरितः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन (वैदिक/काव्ये बहुवचनरूपेण 'सरितः')

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: विशेषण (Numeral qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्तन् (संख्याशब्द/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; (अव्ययवत्) प्रथमा/द्वितीया-समर्थ, बहुवचनार्थे; 'seven' qualifying सरितः

• सागराः: oceans
• सागराः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• महर्द्धयः: great/abundant
• महर्द्धयः: विधेय-विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महर्द्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; 'महर्द्धि' = great in prosperity/abundance

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana to the sages at Naimisharanya, within the Kailasha Samhita discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Kedāranātha

Sthala Purana: Kedāra is famed as a Himalayan Śiva-sthāna where the Lord is worshiped amid mountains and rivers; this verse’s emphasis on renowned mountains and Gaṅgā-like rivers naturally evokes the Kedāra/Himālaya sacred landscape (associative rather than a direct episode).

Significance: Pilgrimage amid the Himalayan ‘sthāvara’ realm is held to purify and stabilize the mind, fostering devotion and detachment.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganga

FAQs

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

It lists key constituents of the manifest cosmos—plants, mountains, rivers, and oceans—to remind the seeker that the entire visible world (pāśa) functions within the order sustained by Pati (Śiva), encouraging reverence and detachment rather than mere enjoyment.

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

By presenting nature as Śiva’s governed manifestation, it supports Saguna worship: the devotee can honor Śiva through the Linga while viewing rivers like Gaṅgā and the great oceans as sacred expressions within His domain, leading the mind from form to the transcendent Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is bhāva-japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while contemplating the elements of nature as Śiva’s śakti and order; offering water (especially Gaṅgā-jala when available) to the Linga aligns this vision with daily worship.