Shloka 3

प्रणवार्थ-शिवतत्त्व-निर्णयः

The Determination of Śiva as the Meaning of Praṇava

Devanagari script

लोकेस्मिन्पशवस्सर्व्वे नानाशास्त्रविमोहिताः । वञ्चिताः परमेशस्य माययातिविचित्रया

Transliteration

lokesminpaśavassarvve nānāśāstravimohitāḥ | vañcitāḥ parameśasya māyayātivicitrayā

Translation

In dieser Welt werden alle paśus — die verkörperten Seelen — durch die vielen unterschiedlichen Lehren verwirrt und durch die überaus wunderbare Māyā Parameśvaras (des Herrn Śiva) vom Weg abgebracht.

Word by Word

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Locative singular)

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Locative singular), सर्वनाम

• पशवः: beings (bound souls; 'paśus')
• पशवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Nominative plural)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Nominative plural) qualifying पशवः

• नाना-शास्त्र-विमोहिताः: deluded by various scriptures
• नाना-शास्त्र-विमोहिताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय) + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + विमोहित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (नानाशास्त्रैः विमोहिताः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Nominative plural)

• वञ्चिताः: deceived
• वञ्चिताः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण/प्रेडिकेट)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वञ्चित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Nominative plural); क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle)

• परमेशस्य: of the Supreme Lord
• परमेशस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Genitive singular)

• मायया: by (his) māyā
• मायया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Instrumental singular)

• अति-विचित्रया: very wondrous/most strange
• अति-विचित्रया: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + विचित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास ('अत्यन्तं विचित्रा'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Instrumental singular) agreeing with मायया

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches the Shaiva Siddhanta view that the soul (paśu) becomes bound and confused through Māyā’s veiling and projecting power, and therefore needs the grace of Pati (Śiva) and right understanding to move toward liberation.

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

Because minds are scattered by competing views, the Purana points the seeker to a stable, grace-filled focus—Saguna Śiva as worshipped in the Śiva-liṅga—so devotion and disciplined practice can cut through delusion and mature into true knowledge.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with daily Śiva-pūjā (including bhasma/tripuṇḍra and rudrākṣa where appropriate), to purify confusion and align the mind with Śiva’s grace.