Shloka 6

पञ्चकृत्यलक्षणनिर्णयः

Definition of Śiva’s Five Cosmic Acts—Pañcakṛtya

Devanagari script

तदिदं पंचभूतेषु दृश्यते मामकैर्जनैः । सृष्टिर्भूमौ स्थितिस्तोये संहारः पावके तथा

Transliteration

tadidaṃ paṃcabhūteṣu dṛśyate māmakairjanaiḥ | sṛṣṭirbhūmau sthitistoye saṃhāraḥ pāvake tathā

Translation

ఈ తత్త్వం నా భక్తులు పంచ మహాభూతాలలో దర్శించుదురు—భూమిలో సృష్టి, నీటిలో స్థితి (పోషణ), అలాగే అగ్నిలో సంహారం.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Demonstrative pronoun, Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Demonstrative pronoun, Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; apposition with तत्

• पञ्च-भूतेषु: in the five elements
• पञ्च-भूतेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañca + bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural; द्विगु: ‘पञ्च + भूत’ = ‘five elements’

• दृश्यते: is seen/appears
• दृश्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (present), Prathama-puruṣa, Singular, Ātmanepada; Passive sense (कर्मणि) ‘is seen/appears’

• मामकैः: by my (own)
• मामकैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: māmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; qualifies ‘जनैः’

• जनैः: by people
• जनैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• सृष्टिः: creation
• सृष्टिः: Karta (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• भूमौ: in earth
• भूमौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• स्थितिः: maintenance, stability
• स्थितिः: Karta (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthiti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• तोये: in water
• तोये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: toya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• संहारः: dissolution, destruction
• संहारः: Karta (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पावके: in fire
• पावके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāvaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Elemental mapping of pañcakṛtya (bhūta-pañcaka) rather than a jyotirliṅga legend; teaches devotees to ‘see’ Śiva’s functions in the cosmos.

Significance: Encourages bhūta-śuddhi style contemplation: perceiving Śiva’s governance in the elements as a support for devotion and insight.

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva’s lordship (Pati-tattva) is not abstract—His cosmic functions can be contemplated directly in the elements, helping the devotee recognize divine order in the world and turn the mind toward liberation.

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

The Linga is the sacred sign of Shiva’s all-pervading reality. By worshipping the Linga (Saguna support) one learns to perceive Shiva’s workings in the Panchabhutas, moving from outer symbol to inner recognition of His presence everywhere.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice bhūta-śuddhi (elemental contemplation): while offering water, lamp/fire, and earth/flowers in Shiva-puja, meditate that creation, sustenance, and dissolution are Shiva’s acts, and silently repeat the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”