Shloka 36

प्रणवमहिमा — The Greatness of the Praṇava (Om) as Śiva

Devanagari script

विषयः स्यामहं देवि जीवब्रह्मैक्यभावनात् । सम्बन्धं शृणु देवेशि विषयः सम्यगीरितः

Transliteration

viṣayaḥ syāmahaṃ devi jīvabrahmaikyabhāvanāt | sambandhaṃ śṛṇu deveśi viṣayaḥ samyagīritaḥ

Translation

O Göttin, das Thema hier ist die betrachtende Verwirklichung der Einheit von Einzelseele (jīva) und Brahman. O Königin der Götter, höre nun den rechten Zusammenhang und Kontext—dieses Thema ist korrekt dargelegt.

Word by Word

• विषयः: topic/subject-matter
• विषयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विषय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• स्याम्: may I be
• स्याम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• देवि: O देवी
• देवि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• जीव-ब्रह्म-ऐक्य-भावनात्: from (the practice of) contemplating the unity of jīva and brahman
• जीव-ब्रह्म-ऐक्य-भावनात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान-पञ्चमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीव (प्रातिपदिक) + ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + ऐक्य (प्रातिपदिक) + भावना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; समासः (बहुपद-तत्पुरुष): 'जीवब्रह्मणोः ऐक्यस्य भावना' (contemplation of the unity of jīva and brahman)

• सम्बन्धम्: connection/relationship
• सम्बन्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्बन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• शृणु: hear/listen
• शृणु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• देवेशि: O goddess, lady of the gods
• देवेशि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवेशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• विषयः: the topic
• विषयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विषय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सम्यक्: properly/correctly
• सम्यक्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• ईरितः: stated/declared
• ईरितः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईर् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृत् (past passive participle)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

It frames the chapter’s focus as disciplined contemplation on the soul’s identity with the Supreme, presented as a precise, properly connected teaching rather than mere speculation—aimed at liberation.

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

In Shaiva teaching, Saguna worship (Linga, mantra, devotion) purifies and steadies the mind, making it fit for the deeper contemplation of unity that Shiva introduces here as the chapter’s central subject.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A key takeaway is bhāvanā (steady contemplation): combine mantra-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with meditative inquiry into the Self under Shiva’s guidance, maintaining devotional orientation to Pati (Shiva) while loosening bondage (pāśa).