Shloka 17

Kāla-vañcana (Overcoming/Outwitting Time) and the Pañcabhūta Basis of the Body

Devanagari script

त्रिगुणं च तथा तेजो वायुर्द्विगुण एव च । शब्दैकगुणमाकाशं पृथिव्यादिषु कीर्तितम्

Transliteration

triguṇaṃ ca tathā tejo vāyurdviguṇa eva ca | śabdaikaguṇamākāśaṃ pṛthivyādiṣu kīrtitam

Translation

Sa aral tungkol sa mga elemento na nagsisimula sa lupa, ipinahayag na ang apoy ay may tatlong katangian, ang hangin ay may dalawang katangian, at ang eter ay may iisang katangian—ang “tunog”.

Word by Word

• त्रिगुणम्: having three qualities
• त्रिगुणम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (तेजः)

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

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण/समुच्चयार्थ (adverb: likewise)

• तेजः: fire / brilliance (tejas)
• तेजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वायुः: wind
• वायुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• द्विगुणः: having two qualities
• द्विगुणः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (वायुः)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण (emphasis particle)

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

• शब्दैकगुणम्: having sound as the single quality
• शब्दैकगुणम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शब्द + एक + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (आकाशम्)

• आकाशम्: ether / space
• आकाशम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पृथिव्यादिषु: among earth etc. (elements)
• पृथिव्यादिषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; ‘पृथिवी-आदि’ (in earth etc.)

• कीर्तितम्: is declared / is mentioned
• कीर्तितम्: Kriyā (verbal predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे विधेय

Speaker

Lord Shiva (teaching Uma/Parvati in the Umāsaṃhitā philosophical discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

It maps the graded manifestation of prakriti in the elements: from subtle (ākāśa with sound alone) to progressively grosser. In Shaiva Siddhanta, such discrimination (viveka) supports detachment from pasha (bondage) and turns the seeker toward Pati (Shiva), the transcendent source beyond the guṇas.

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

The Linga is revered as the axis of tattvas—from the gross elements up to the subtle. Knowing that even ākāśa is defined by a limited quality (sound) helps the devotee see that all manifested qualities are finite, while Shiva (worshiped in the Linga) is the Lord of the tattvas, not confined by them.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is subtle meditation on sound (nāda/śabda) as the finest mark of the elements—supporting japa of the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and inner listening (śravaṇa) to refine awareness from gross to subtle while keeping devotion to Shiva.