Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 18

शिवस्य परापरब्रह्मस्वरूपनिर्णयः / Determination of Śiva as Higher and Lower Brahman

Devanagari script

प्रधानं प्रकृतिं प्राहुःक्षेत्रज्ञं पुरुषं तथा । त्रयोविंशतितत्त्वानि व्यक्तमाहुर्मनीषिणः

Transliteration

pradhānaṃ prakṛtiṃ prāhuḥkṣetrajñaṃ puruṣaṃ tathā | trayoviṃśatitattvāni vyaktamāhurmanīṣiṇaḥ

Translation

圣贤宣说：原质（Pradhāna）即是自性（Prakṛti），而“知田者”（Kṣetrajña）即是补卢沙（Puruṣa）。他们又说，显现世界由二十三种本原（tattva）构成。

Word by Word

• प्रधानम्: the Pradhāna (primordial matter)
• प्रधानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pradhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• प्रकृतिम्: Prakṛti (nature)
• प्रकृतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prakṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• प्राहुः: they have said / call
• प्राहुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (अह्/ब्रू—धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• क्षेत्रज्ञम्: the knower of the field (kṣetrajña)
• क्षेत्रज्ञम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣetra + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (क्षेत्रस्य ज्ञः), पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• पुरुषम्: Puruṣa (spirit/person)
• पुरुषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: ‘thus/also’)

• त्रयोविंशतितत्त्वानि: the twenty-three principles
• त्रयोविंशतितत्त्वानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: trayas + viṃśati + tattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (त्रयोविंशतिः संख्या + तत्त्वानि), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन

• व्यक्तम्: the manifest (vyakta)
• व्यक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• आहुः: they have said / call
• आहुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (अह्/ब्रू—धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• मनीषिणः: the sages/wise ones
• मनीषिणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manīṣin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Vāyavīya philosophical teaching to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

FAQs

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

It distinguishes the insentient ground of experience (Prakṛti/Pradhāna) from the conscious knower (Kṣetrajña/Puruṣa), preparing the Shaiva Siddhanta insight that liberation comes by transcending the tattvas and bonds (pāśa) through the grace of Pati (Śiva).

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

By mapping reality into Prakṛti, the knower, and the manifest tattvas, the text points to Śiva as the supreme Lord beyond and governing these categories; Linga worship focuses the mind on that Pati—who is not merely one more tattva, but the transcendent and immanent Lord who grants release.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is tattva-viveka (discernment meditation): contemplate the body-mind as part of the manifested principles while resting as the knower, and support this with japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to seek Śiva’s grace for freedom from pāśa.