Shloka 38

Devanagari script

आधारशक्तिमारभ्य शुद्धविद्यासनावधि । ओंकारादिचतुर्थ्यंतं नाममन्त्रं नमोन्तकम्

Transliteration

ādhāraśaktimārabhya śuddhavidyāsanāvadhi | oṃkārādicaturthyaṃtaṃ nāmamantraṃ namontakam

Translation

ابتداءً من آدهارا‑شاكتي إلى مقعد شُدّها‑فِدْيا، يُتأمَّل «مانترا الاسم»: يبدأ بـ «أوم»، ويمتدّ حتى المقطع الرابع، ويُختَم بكلمة «نَمَهْ» (namaḥ).

Word by Word

• ādhāra-śaktim: the support-power (Ādhāra-Śakti)
• ādhāra-śaktim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādhāra (प्रातिपदिक) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक); ādhāraśakti (समास)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ārabhya: starting from
• ārabhya: Apādāna (अपादान/आरम्भबिन्दु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā + rabh (धातु); ārabhya (क्त्वा/ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त), indeclinable; ‘beginning from’

• śuddha-vidyā-āsana-avadhi: up to the Śuddhavidyā-seat
• śuddha-vidyā-āsana-avadhi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śuddha (प्रातिपदिक) + vidyā (प्रातिपदिक) + āsana (प्रातिपदिक) + avadhi (प्रातिपदिक); śuddhavidyāsanāvadhi (समास)
• Form: Adverbial compound (अव्ययीभाव) with sense ‘up to’; governs range/limit

• oṃkāra-ādi-caturthī-antam: ending with the fourth (case) beginning with ‘Oṃkāra’
• oṃkāra-ādi-caturthī-antam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: oṃkāra (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + caturthī (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक); oṃkārādicaturthyanta (समास)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying nāmamantram

• nāma-mantram: the name-mantra
• nāma-mantram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक) + mantra (प्रातिपदिक); nāmamantra (समास)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• namo-anta-kam: ending with ‘namo’
• namo-anta-kam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: namo (अव्यय/नमस्) + anta (प्रातिपदिक) + ka (प्रत्ययान्त प्रातिपदिक); namontaka (समास)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying nāmamantram

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: oṃ namaḥ śivāya

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Śiva-mantra as a ladder of consciousness—from foundational Śakti up to Śuddha-vidyā—showing that japa, when done with right understanding, purifies the soul (paśu) and loosens bondage (pāśa) toward union with Pati (Śiva).

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

By prescribing the Name-mantra beginning with Oṃ and ending in namaḥ, it supports Saguna upāsanā—devotional approach to Śiva (often with the Liṅga as the focal support)—as a disciplined means to realize the higher, purer knowledge (Śuddha-vidyā).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Mantra-japa and inner contemplation of Śiva’s Name-mantra (Oṃ…namaḥ), ideally performed with purity and steadiness; it can be integrated with traditional Śaiva observances like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa while maintaining focused remembrance of Śiva.