Shloka 25

प्रणवार्थ-शिवतत्त्व-निर्णयः

The Determination of Śiva as the Meaning of Praṇava

Devanagari script

वर्णाश्रमाचारपुण्यैरभ्यर्च्य परमेश्वरम् । तत्सायुज्यं गतास्सर्वे बहवो मुनिसत्तमाः

Transliteration

varṇāśramācārapuṇyairabhyarcya parameśvaram | tatsāyujyaṃ gatāssarve bahavo munisattamāḥ

Translation

Nachdem sie Parameśvara durch die verdienstvollen Pflichten von Varṇa und Āśrama verehrt hatten, gelangten viele der erhabensten Weisen allesamt zum Sāyujya — zur Vereinigung in inniger Nähe mit Ihm.

Word by Word

• वर्ण-आश्रम-आचार-पुण्यैः: by the merits of varṇa- and āśrama- conduct
• वर्ण-आश्रम-आचार-पुण्यैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक) + आचार (प्रातिपदिक) + पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); means/qualification: 'by/with the merits of ...'

• अभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• अभ्यर्च्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√arc (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय, ल्यप्): 'having worshipped'

• परमेश्वरम्: the Supreme Lord
• परमेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• तत्-सायुज्यम्: that union/identity (with Him)
• तत्-सायुज्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + सायुज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• गताः: attained/went to
• गताः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम् (धातु)
• Form: Past active participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); predicate of subject

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता) as qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifier of 'मुनिसत्तमाः'

• बहवः: many
• बहवः: Karta (कर्ता) as qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifier of 'मुनिसत्तमाः'

• मुनि-सत्तमाः: best of sages
• मुनि-सत्तमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Affirms that disciplined varṇāśrama conduct, when offered as worship to Parameśvara, culminates (by Śiva’s grace) in sāyujya/communion—used as a motivational teaching for aspirants.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that disciplined living according to one’s dharma (varṇa-āśrama conduct), when offered as worship to Parameśvara Śiva, becomes a direct means to liberation—culminating in sāyujya, a state of intimate union through Śiva’s grace.

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

The verse frames worship as not only temple-ritual but also dharma lived as an offering to Saguna Śiva (Parameśvara). In practice, such worship commonly centers on the Śiva-liṅga with devotion, purity, and right conduct, making daily life itself liṅga-sevā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It implies integrating daily duties with Śiva-upāsanā: regular liṅga-pūjā, japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and maintaining purity and discipline—treating all prescribed conduct as worship dedicated to Śiva.