Shloka 18

Śiva-Śakti Tattva, Varṇa-Rahasya, and Mahāvākya-Bhāvanā

Interpretive Discipline

Devanagari script

अहमस्मि परं ब्रह्म परापरपरात्परम् । इति वाक्यस्य तात्पर्यं वदामि श्रूयतामिदम्

Transliteration

ahamasmi paraṃ brahma parāparaparātparam | iti vākyasya tātparyaṃ vadāmi śrūyatāmidam

Translation

„Ich bin das höchste Brahman—höher als das Transzendente und das Immanente, ja jenseits selbst des sogenannten ‚Jenseits‘.“ Nun will ich den beabsichtigten Sinn dieser Aussage darlegen; höret dies.

Word by Word

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम

• अस्मि: am
• अस्मि: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Karma (कर्म/Object complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘ब्रह्म’)

• ब्रह्म: Brahman, Absolute
• ब्रह्म: Karma (कर्म/Predicate complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; यहाँ द्वितीया (predicate complement)

• पर-अपर-परात्-परम्: beyond the higher and the lower; the transcendent beyond transcendent
• पर-अपर-परात्-परम्: Karma (कर्म/Predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + अपर (प्रातिपदिक) + परात्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (stacked epithet): ‘परं च अपरं च परात्परं च’ (as an epithet of ब्रह्म)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणार्थक-अव्यय

• वाक्यस्य: of the statement/sentence
• वाक्यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• तात्पर्यम्: intended meaning, purport
• तात्पर्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात्पर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वदामि: I state/explain
• वदामि: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन

• श्रूयताम्: let it be heard
• श्रूयताम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आज्ञार्थे (let it be heard)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: aham asmi paraṃ brahma parāparaparātparam

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahman

FAQs

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

The verse asserts Shiva as the supreme, incomparable Reality—transcending all categories of higher/lower and immanent/transcendent—preparing the listener for a precise philosophical explanation of liberation through knowing Shiva as Pati (the Lord) beyond limitation.

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

Though the declaration is of the supreme, beyond-form Reality, Shaiva teaching commonly approaches that Truth through Saguna worship—especially the Linga—so the devotee’s mind becomes steady and purified, culminating in insight into Shiva as the Supreme Brahman.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is contemplative listening (śravaṇa) and inner inquiry into Shiva’s supremacy, typically supported by japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and meditative absorption on Shiva as both the immanent Lord and the transcendent Absolute.