Shloka 38

प्रणवार्थपद्धतिवर्णनम्

Methodical Explanation of the Meaning of Praṇava/Om

Devanagari script

पावमानेन रुद्रेण नीलेन त्वरितेन च । ऋग्भिश्च सामभिर्वापि ब्रह्मभिश्चैव पञ्चभिः

Transliteration

pāvamānena rudreṇa nīlena tvaritena ca | ṛgbhiśca sāmabhirvāpi brahmabhiścaiva pañcabhiḥ

Translation

بـرودرا المُطهِّر المسمّى بافامانا (Pāvamāna)، وبـنِيلا (Nīla) وتْفَريتا (Tvarita)؛ وكذلك بترانيم الرِّگ (Ṛg) والسّاما (Sāma)، مع المانترا الخمس لبراهما—بهذه الألفاظ المقدّسة يُؤدَّى طقس شِڤا، لأنها تُقدّس العابد وتُوجّه النفس المقيّدة نحو الربّ.

Word by Word

• पावमानेन: with (the mantra) Pāvamāna
• पावमानेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पावमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; मन्त्र/स्तोत्र-नाम (name of a mantra/hymn)

• रुद्रेण: with (the mantra) Rudra
• रुद्रेण: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; मन्त्र-नाम (Rudra-mantra)

• नीलेन: with (the mantra) Nīla
• नीलेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; मन्त्र-नाम (Nīla)

• त्वरितेन: with (the mantra) Tvarita
• त्वरितेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वरित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त from √त्वर्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; मन्त्र-नाम (Tvarita)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ऋग्भिः: with Ṛg (hymns)
• ऋग्भिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋच्/ऋग् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; ऋग्वेद-मन्त्राः

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सामभिः: with Sāman chants
• सामभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; सामवेद-गान/मन्त्राः

• वा: or
• वा: समुच्चय/विकल्प (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• अपि: also
• अपि: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• ब्रह्मभिः: with Brahma (Atharvan) hymns
• ब्रह्मभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; अत्र ‘ब्रह्म’ = अथर्ववेद/ब्रह्म-मन्त्राः (Brahma/Atharvan formulas)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

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

• पञ्चभिः: with the five
• पञ्चभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग-विशेषण; तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक (numeral)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kailasa Samhita teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: (Referenced) Pāvamāna-Rudra, Nīla, Tvarita; Ṛg and Sāma hymns; five Brahma-mantras (pañca-brahma).

Type: rudram

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that Śiva-worship is sanctified through purifying mantras—Rudra-forms and Vedic hymns—which cleanse mala (impurity) and loosen pāśa (bondage), turning the pashu (individual soul) toward Pati (Śiva).

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

The verse supports Saguna worship by prescribing specific sacred sounds—names/forms of Rudra and Vedic chants—as the sonic offerings that consecrate external worship (including Liṅga-pūjā) while inwardly aligning the mind with Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use mantra-recitation during Śiva-pūjā—invoking purifying Rudra aspects (Pāvamāna, Nīla, Tvarita) and chanting Vedic hymns/mantras—treating sound as a purifier before and during worship.