Shloka 106

Praṇava-Māhātmya and the Twofold Mantra (Sūkṣma–Sthūla) in Śaiva Sādhanā

Devanagari script

कालचक्रं पंचचक्रमेकैकेन क्रमोत्तरे । सृष्टिमोहौ ब्रह्मचक्रं भोगमोहौ तु वैष्णवम्

Transliteration

kālacakraṃ paṃcacakramekaikena kramottare | sṛṣṭimohau brahmacakraṃ bhogamohau tu vaiṣṇavam

Translation

Das Rad der Zeit ist ein fünffaches Rad, und jedes folgende erhebt sich stufenweise über das vorige. Die Verblendung, die mit der Schöpfung verbunden ist, gehört zum Rad Brahmās; die Verblendung, die mit dem Genuss verbunden ist, gehört zum Rad Viṣṇus.

Word by Word

• कालचक्रम्: wheel of time
• कालचक्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (कालस्य चक्रम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; Neuter, Nom/Acc Singular

• पञ्चचक्रम्: the fivefold wheel / five wheels
• पञ्चचक्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (पञ्च चक्राणि), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; Neuter, Nom/Acc Singular

• एकैकेन: one by one
• एकैकेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकैक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (एक+एक), तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; Neuter/masc instr. singular used adverbially: ‘one by one’

• क्रमोत्तरे: in successive order
• क्रमोत्तरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्राय (‘क्रमे उत्तरे’ = ‘in successive order’), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; Locative singular

• सृष्टिमोहौ: creation and delusion
• सृष्टिमोहौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + मोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व (सृष्टि + मोह), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन; Masculine, Nom/Acc Dual

• ब्रह्मचक्रम्: Brahmā’s wheel / Brahma-wheel
• ब्रह्मचक्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणः चक्रम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; Neuter, Nom/Acc Singular

• भोगमोहौ: enjoyment and delusion
• भोगमोहौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक) + मोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व (भोग + मोह), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन; Masculine, Nom/Acc Dual

• तु: but / and indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (contrastive particle); Indeclinable particle

• वैष्णवम्: Vaiṣṇava / pertaining to Viṣṇu
• वैष्णवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; predicate adjective (elliptic: ‘(चक्रम्) वैष्णवम्’); Neuter, Nom/Acc Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: kālacakra (cyclic time) and graded cosmic governance through pañca-cakra schema

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It identifies bondage (moha) as operating through cosmic functions—creation and enjoyment—showing that liberation requires rising beyond time-bound cycles and their delusive pulls, culminating in refuge in Pati (Śiva) who transcends the cakras.

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

By distinguishing the delusions tied to Brahmā and Viṣṇu’s spheres, the verse implies that Saguna worship of Śiva—especially through the Liṅga—centers the mind on the transcendent Lord who governs and surpasses these functions, guiding the devotee beyond moha.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with contemplative discernment (viveka): observe how desire for experience (bhoga) and pride in doing/creating (sṛṣṭi) arise, and offer them into Śiva through daily Liṅga-pūjā or mental worship.