Shloka 97

Praṇava-Māhātmya and the Twofold Mantra (Sūkṣma–Sthūla) in Śaiva Sādhanā

Devanagari script

तस्य संदर्शनं सांध्यं कर्मध्यानादिभिः क्रमात् । नित्यादिकर्मयजनाच्छिवकर्ममतिर्भवेत्

Transliteration

tasya saṃdarśanaṃ sāṃdhyaṃ karmadhyānādibhiḥ kramāt | nityādikarmayajanācchivakarmamatirbhavet

Translation

بالمواظبة على نيل دارشَنَه في أوقات السَّندْهْيا، وبالسير تدريجًا عبر الواجبات المقرّرة والتأمّل وما يتصل به من رياضات، وبإقامة الشعائر اليومية والعبادة، يثبت فهم المرء وقصده متوجّهين إلى شيفا-كرمن، أي العمل المقدّس لعبادة شيفا، فينقاد الذهن إلى شيفا.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• संदर्शनम्: seeing, दर्शन
• संदर्शनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃ-darśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सांध्यम्: pertaining to twilight (sandhyā)
• सांध्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sāṃdhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies संदर्शनम्)

• कर्मध्यानादिभिः: by rites, meditation, and the like
• कर्मध्यानादिभिः: Karana (करण/Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karma + dhyāna + ādi (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः: कर्म च ध्यानं च (आदि-समुच्चय)

• क्रमात्: in due order, gradually
• क्रमात्: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-निभम्; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb)

• नित्यादिकर्मयजनात्: from the performance of daily and other rites
• नित्यादिकर्मयजनात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nitya-ādi + karma + yajana (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; समासः: नित्यादि-कर्म (तत्पुरुष) + यजन (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष), समस्तात् अपादानम्

• शिवकर्ममतिः: inclination toward Shiva's worship/acts
• शिवकर्ममतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva-karma + mati (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: शिवस्य कर्म (षष्ठी) + तत्र मतिः

• भवेत्: would arise, should become
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmī (narrating the Vidyeśvara teachings to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Kāśī’s Viśvanātha is traditionally approached through regular sandhyā-darśana and nitya-karmas; the verse frames darśana at liminal times (sandhyā) as a discipline that reorients the bound soul toward Śiva.

Significance: Sandhyā-darśana and nitya-pūjā cultivate śiva-bhāva and steadiness (mati) leading toward Śiva-jñāna.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that consistent sandhyā-time remembrance and disciplined daily observances gradually reorient the mind into Śiva-centered intention (śiva-karma-mati), which is a foundation for purification and liberation in the Śaiva path.

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

“Darśana” and “yajana” point to regular, embodied worship—classically of the Śiva-liṅga—where Saguna forms and ritual become supports that steady attention, making devotion mature and inwardly contemplative.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform sandhyā observances at dawn and dusk, keep nitya-karmas, and add dhyāna in a gradual sequence—ideally alongside Śiva-mantra japa (such as the Pañcākṣarī, Om Namaḥ Śivāya) during daily Śiva worship.