Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 41

Manifestation of the Śrī Vāsudeva Hymn in the Glory of Guru-tīrtha

Cyavana Narrative within the Vena Episode

Devanagari script

निरावासं निराकारं सुप्रकाशं महोदयम् । निर्गुणं गुणसंबद्धं नमामि प्रणवं परम्

Transliteration

nirāvāsaṃ nirākāraṃ suprakāśaṃ mahodayam | nirguṇaṃ guṇasaṃbaddhaṃ namāmi praṇavaṃ param

Translation

মই পৰম প্ৰণৱ (ওঁ)ক নমস্কাৰ কৰোঁ—যি নিৰাৱাস, নিৰাকাৰ, সুপ্ৰকাশ, মহোদয়ৰ উৎস; নিৰ্গুণ হয়েও গুণসম্বদ্ধ ৰূপে প্ৰকাশিত।

Word by Word

• निरावासम्: without abode
• निरावासम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्-आवास (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; नञ्/निर्-पूर्वक-तत्पुरुष (आवासो नास्ति यस्य)

• निराकारम्: formless
• निराकारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्-आकार (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; नञ्/निर्-तत्पुरुष (आकारो नास्ति)

• सुप्रकाशम्: very luminous
• सुप्रकाशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-प्रकाश (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सु + प्रकाशः)

• महोदयम्: of great exaltation/rising
• महोदयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा-उदय (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् उदयः)

• निर्गुणम्: without qualities
• निर्गुणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्-गुण (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; नञ्/निर्-तत्पुरुष (गुणा न सन्ति)

• गुणसंबद्धम्: connected with qualities
• गुणसंबद्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण-संबद्ध (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (गुणैः संबद्धम्)

• नमामि: I bow to
• नमामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमानकाल/Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रणवम्: the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषण (प्रणवम्)

Speaker

Unspecified (a devotional narrator/reciter within the Bhūmi-khaṇḍa context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial_realm

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: गुणसंबद्धम् = गुण + संबद्धम् (अनुस्वार-लेखन); अन्यत्र समासपदानि स्पष्टानि।

Characters & Entities

• Praṇava (Oṃ)

FAQs

Who or what is praised in this verse?

The verse praises the supreme Praṇava—Oṃ—as the highest reality: formless, self-luminous, beyond qualities, yet manifesting through qualities.

How can Oṃ be described as both nirguṇa and guṇa-saṃbaddha?

It is “nirguṇa” as the ultimate, transcendent reality beyond the three guṇas, and “guṇa-saṃbaddha” because it is also the basis through which the guṇas and the manifest world are expressed and understood.

What spiritual practice does this verse support?

It supports reverent contemplation and japa/meditation on Oṃ (Praṇava) as a direct symbol of the supreme—uniting devotional surrender with philosophical insight.