Shloka 33

नारदस्य विष्णूपदेशवर्णनम् — Nārada and Viṣṇu: Instruction after Delusion

Devanagari script

निर्गुणत्वे शिवाह्वो हि परमात्मा महेश्वरः । परं ब्रह्माव्ययोऽनंतो महादेवेति गीयते

Transliteration

nirguṇatve śivāhvo hi paramātmā maheśvaraḥ | paraṃ brahmāvyayo'naṃto mahādeveti gīyate

Translation

In seinem eigenschaftslosen (nirguṇa) Zustand wird das höchste Selbst — Mahā-Īśvara — wahrhaft «Śiva» genannt. Er ist das höchste Brahman, unvergänglich und endlos; darum wird er als «Mahādeva» besungen.

Word by Word

• nirguṇatve: in the state of being nirguṇa
• nirguṇatve: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nirguṇatva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• śiva-āhvaḥ: called ‘Śiva’
• śiva-āhvaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + āhva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (śiva-āhvānaḥ/śiva-nāmakaḥ)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थक निपात (particle: indeed/for)

• paramātmā: the Supreme Self
• paramātmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (परः आत्मा)

• maheśvaraḥ: Maheśvara
• maheśvaraḥ: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maheśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समानाधिकरणम् (paramātmā)

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (brahma)

• brahma: Brahman
• brahma: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• avyayaḥ: imperishable
• avyayaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avyaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (saḥ/brahma as personified)

• anantaḥ: endless/infinite
• anantaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ananta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• mahādeva: Mahādeva
• mahādeva: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् देवः)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इति-शब्दः (quotative particle)

• gīyate: is sung/called
• gīyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gai (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive), आत्मनेपदम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Maheshvara/Mahadeva/Paramatma/Brahman)

FAQs

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

It identifies Shiva as the Supreme Reality (Para Brahman) beyond all limiting qualities—imperishable and infinite—showing that liberation is grounded in realizing Shiva as the highest Self, not merely as a worldly deity.

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

While the verse speaks of nirguṇa Shiva (beyond form and attributes), Shaiva tradition approaches this truth through saguna supports like the Śiva-liṅga, names, and hymns—using form to reach the formless Supreme.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the infinite, imperishable Paramatma while japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) is performed—letting the mantra lead the mind from form-based devotion toward nirguṇa contemplation.