Shloka 41

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

Devanagari script

दीर्घदण्डप्रणामाद्यैस्तोषयेद्यत्नतस्सुधीः । शान्त्यादिगुणसंयुक्तः शिष्यस्सौशील्यवान्वरः

Transliteration

dīrghadaṇḍapraṇāmādyaistoṣayedyatnatassudhīḥ | śāntyādiguṇasaṃyuktaḥ śiṣyassauśīlyavānvaraḥ

Translation

Ein weiser Schüler soll sich mit eifrigem Bemühen darum bemühen, den Guru durch Handlungen wie die lange, stabgleiche Niederwerfung zu erfreuen. Der beste Schüler ist mit Frieden und anderen Tugenden verbunden und besitzt edles Verhalten und Demut.

Word by Word

• दीर्घ-दण्ड-प्रणाम-आद्यैः: with long-staff prostrations and the like
• दीर्घ-दण्ड-प्रणाम-आद्यैः: करण (तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीर्घ (प्रातिपदिक) + दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रणाम (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; समासः (आद्यैः सह) तत्पुरुष-समाहारः; ‘with long-staff prostrations etc.’

• तोषयेत्: should please
• तोषयेत्: क्रिया (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तुष् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; causative sense in usage ‘should please/satisfy’

• यत्नतः: with effort, diligently
• यत्नतः: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्नतः (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• सुधीः: the wise (disciple)
• सुधीः: कर्ता (प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘wise person’

• शान्ति-आदि-गुण-संयुक्तः: endowed with virtues like peace
• शान्ति-आदि-गुण-संयुक्तः: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुक्त (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-आधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (शान्त्यादिभिः गुणैः संयुक्तः)

• शिष्यः: the disciple
• शिष्यः: कर्ता (प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सौशील्य-वान्: possessing good conduct
• सौशील्य-वान्: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौशील्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive) ‘having good conduct’

• वरः: excellent
• वरः: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (शिष्यः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kailasha Samhita teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

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 spiritual knowledge in Shaiva tradition matures through humility, peace, and disciplined reverence to the Guru—outer bowing expresses inner ego-surrender, preparing the soul (paśu) for Shiva’s grace (pati-anugraha).

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is not merely ritual; it is supported by the disciple’s virtues—śānti (calmness), good conduct, and surrender—so that devotion to Saguna Shiva becomes a purified channel for receiving Shiva’s saving grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse directly points to daṇḍavat (full-body) prostration and devoted service as daily practice; paired with Shaiva discipline, one may support it with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) in a calm, humble mind.