Shloka 7

प्रकृतितत्त्व-विचारः / Inquiry into Prakṛti (Nature/Śakti) and Śiva’s Transcendence

Devanagari script

महेश्वर उवाच । तपसा परमेणेव प्रकृतिं नाशयाम्यहम् । प्रकृत्या रहितश्शम्भुरहं तिष्ठामि तत्त्वतः

Transliteration

maheśvara uvāca | tapasā parameṇeva prakṛtiṃ nāśayāmyaham | prakṛtyā rahitaśśambhurahaṃ tiṣṭhāmi tattvataḥ

Translation

大自在天（Maheśvara）说道：“唯以至上的苦行（tapas），我令普拉克里蒂（Prakṛti）消融——那束缚物质自然的力量。离于普拉克里蒂，我——商布（Śambhu）——如实安住，作为真实的本原。”

Word by Word

• महेश्वरः: Maheśvara
• महेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक; components: महा + ईश्वर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• परमेण: supreme
• परमेण: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying तपसा)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• प्रकृतिम्: Prakṛti
• प्रकृतिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• नाशयामि: I destroy
• नाशयामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नाशय् (णिच् causative of नश् धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिजन्त (causative)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• प्रकृत्या: with/by Prakṛti
• प्रकृत्या: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• रहितः: devoid (of)
• रहितः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying शम्भुः/अहम्)

• शम्भुः: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तिष्ठामि: I stand/abide
• तिष्ठामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्त्वतः: in truth; essentially
• तत्त्वतः: Prakāra (प्रकार/Adverbial manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्त्वतः (अव्यय; from तत्त्व)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (adverb): ‘in reality/essentially’

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Maheshvara/Śambhu)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Maheshvara
• Shambhu
• Prakriti

FAQs

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

The verse states that Śiva, as the supreme Pati (Lord), is untouched by Prakṛti and can dissolve its binding force through transcendent tapas—teaching that liberation comes from rising beyond the guṇas into Shiva-tattva (the real principle).

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

Linga worship trains the mind to move from form (saguṇa upāsanā) toward the formless truth (nirguṇa reality). This verse affirms that the goal of such worship is abiding in Śiva beyond Prakṛti, even while approaching Him through sacred symbols.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points toward tapas as disciplined sādhana—especially mantra-japa (notably the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), dhyāna on Śiva, and vrata-like self-restraint to weaken Prakṛti’s pull and stabilize awareness in the auspicious Śambhu.