Shloka 22

प्रणवार्थपद्धतिवर्णनम्

Methodical Explanation of the Meaning of Praṇava/Om

Devanagari script

सर्वात्मा परमैरेभिर्गुणैर्नित्यसमन्वयात् । स्वस्मात्परात्मविरहात्परमात्मा शिवस्स्वयम्

Transliteration

sarvātmā paramairebhirguṇairnityasamanvayāt | svasmātparātmavirahātparamātmā śivassvayam

Translation

Er ist das Selbst aller Wesen, denn die höchsten Eigenschaften wohnen ewig in Ihm. Und weil es kein höheres Selbst außerhalb Seiner gibt, ist Śiva selbst das höchste Selbst (Paramātman).

Word by Word

• सर्वात्मा: the Self of all
• सर्वात्मा: Karta (कर्ता; विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: सर्वेषाम् आत्मा (self of all / all-pervading self)

• परमैः: by supreme
• परमैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुं; तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; गुणैः इति विशेषण (by supreme)

• एभिः: by these
• एभिः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुं; तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (‘by these’)

• गुणैः: qualities
• गुणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• नित्यसमन्वयात्: from constant association
• नित्यसमन्वयात्: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक) + samanvaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: नित्यः समन्वयः यस्मात्/कारणात् (from/owing to constant conjunction)

• स्वस्मात्: from himself
• स्वस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुं; पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; आत्मवाचक सर्वनाम (‘from oneself’)

• परात्मविरहात्: from the absence of any other self
• परात्मविरहात्: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + viraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: परात्मनः विरहः (absence of another self)

• परमात्मा: the Supreme Self
• परमात्मा: Karta (कर्ता; विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: परमः आत्मा (the supreme Self)

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता; समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मनिश्चयार्थक/स्वतन्त्रार्थक adverb (‘himself’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kailasha Samhita’s philosophical teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes Śiva as the indwelling Self of all beings and the highest reality (Paramātman), teaching that liberation comes through recognizing no higher principle exists beyond Him.

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

The Liṅga and Saguna forms serve as accessible supports for devotion and contemplation; this verse clarifies that the worship ultimately points to the same Śiva who is the inner Self and the supreme ground of all qualities and existence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as the inner witness (antarātman) while japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” letting devotion to a form mature into steady recognition of Śiva as Paramātman.