Shloka 21

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

Inquiry into the Supreme Self and Gendered Forms

Devanagari script

पर्व्वतस्याग्निमद्भावं वदंत्यत्रापि सुव्रत । प्रत्यक्षस्य प्रपंचस्य दर्शनालंबनं त्वतः

Transliteration

parvvatasyāgnimadbhāvaṃ vadaṃtyatrāpi suvrata | pratyakṣasya prapaṃcasya darśanālaṃbanaṃ tvataḥ

Translation

贤善持戒者啊，此处他们亦言：山中自有火藏。由此可知，眼前直接可见的世界，依托于一层内在的根基——一种幽隐不见的内力，使得知觉与显现成为可能。

Word by Word

• पर्वतस्य: of the mountain
• पर्वतस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अग्नि-मत्-भावम्: the state of having fire (being fiery)
• अग्नि-मत्-भावम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + मत् (तद्धित-प्रत्ययान्त) + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (अग्निमत्त्वस्य भावः)

• वदन्ति: they say
• वदन्ति: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: अधिकरण (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), ‘also/even’

• सुव्रत: O one of good vows
• सुव्रत: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुव्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• प्रत्यक्षस्य: of the perceptible
• प्रत्यक्षस्य: विशेषण-सम्बन्ध (Genitive qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रत्यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying प्रपञ्चस्य)

• प्रपञ्चस्य: of the manifested world/phenomenal expanse
• प्रपञ्चस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रपञ्च (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• दर्शन-आलम्बनम्: a support/basis for perception
• दर्शन-आलम्बनम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक) + आलम्बन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (दर्शनस्य आलम्बनम्)

• तु: indeed; but
• तु: सम्बन्ध (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), ‘but/indeed’

• अतः: therefore; from this
• अतः: सम्बन्ध (logical connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतुवाचक-अव्यय (causal adverb) ‘therefore/from this’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kailasa Samhita teaching to the sages, inferred from Purana discourse style)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It points to a Shaiva insight: just as a mountain can hold hidden fire, the perceptible universe (prapañca) rests on an unseen support—ultimately Pati (Shiva) as the inner ground enabling manifestation and experience.

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

The Linga symbolizes the subtle, unmanifest support of all forms. This verse reinforces that behind what is seen is an inner reality; Saguna worship leads the mind from the visible to the subtle, culminating in recognition of Shiva as the basis of all perception.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on the ‘inner support’ while japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), contemplating that Shiva is present as the subtle ground within all appearances—like hidden fire within stone.