Shloka 17

Paramātma-Svarūpa-Nirṇaya: Strī–Puṃ–Napuṃsaka-Vicāra

Inquiry into the Supreme Self and Gendered Forms

Devanagari script

कर्मास्ति तत्त्वादारभ्य शास्त्रवादस्सुविस्तरः । यथाविवेकं श्रोतव्यो ज्ञानिना ज्ञानदो मुने

Transliteration

karmāsti tattvādārabhya śāstravādassuvistaraḥ | yathāvivekaṃ śrotavyo jñāninā jñānado mune

Translation

ഹേ മുനേ, തത്ത്വത്തിൽ നിന്ന് ആരംഭിച്ച് കർമ്മപര്യന്തം ശാസ്ത്രവാദം അത്യന്തം വിപുലമാണ്. ജ്ഞാനി വിവേകത്തോടെ ഇതു ശ്രവിക്കണം; ഇത് സത്യജ്ഞാനം നൽകുന്നു.

Word by Word

• karma: action/ritual duty
• karma: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्

• asti: is/exists
• asti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• tattvāt: from the principle/reality
• tattvāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचनम्

• ārabhya: starting from
• ārabhya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā-√rabh (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-अव्ययम्—ल्यप् (gerund/absolutive), ‘having begun/starting from’

• śāstravādaḥ: scriptural discourse/doctrine
• śāstravādaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāstra + vāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (śāstre vādaḥ / śāstrasya vādaḥ)

• suvistaraḥ: very extensive
• suvistaraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + vistara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः

• yathā: according to
• yathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb: 'according to')

• vivekam: discernment
• vivekam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viveka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचनम्; अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः (accusative used adverbially: 'with discernment')

• śrotavyaḥ: is to be listened to
• śrotavyaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—तव्यत् (gerundive/future passive participle), पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; विधेय (to be heard)

• jñāninā: by the knower/wise person
• jñāninā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñānin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचनम्

• jñānadaḥ: giver of knowledge
• jñānadaḥ: Sambodhana-viśeṣaṇa (सम्बोधन-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jñāna + da (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (jñānaṃ dadāti iti)

• mune: O sage
• mune: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचनम्

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that scripture covers both metaphysical truth (tattva) and practical discipline (karma), but liberation-oriented wisdom arises only when a seeker listens with viveka (discernment), prioritizing knowledge that leads toward Shiva-realization.

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

Linga-worship often includes outer rites (karma) and inner contemplation (jnana). This verse frames both as part of śāstra, advising the devotee to practice rituals with discernment so they mature into insight—seeing Saguna worship as a doorway to the Supreme Lord Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice discernment-based sadhana: perform prescribed Shiva worship (puja with bhasma and/or rudraksha where taught) while regularly hearing and reflecting on Shiva-tattva teachings, letting mantra-japa (such as the Panchakshara) transform ritual action into steady knowledge.