Shloka 60

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

Devanagari script

सत्यादूर्ध्वं क्षमांतं वैविष्णुलोकाश्चतुर्दश । क्षमलोके कार्यविष्णुर्वैकुंठे वरपत्तने

Transliteration

satyādūrdhvaṃ kṣamāṃtaṃ vaiviṣṇulokāścaturdaśa | kṣamaloke kāryaviṣṇurvaikuṃṭhe varapattane

Translation

Von Satya (Satyaloka) aufwärts bis Kṣamā gibt es wahrlich vierzehn Bereiche, die Viṣṇu gehören. In der Welt Kṣamā weilt Viṣṇu als der Herr, der die kosmische Aufgabe vollzieht; und in Vaikuṇṭha, in der höchsten Stadt, wohnt er als Spender der Gnaden.

Word by Word

• सत्यात्: from Satya (loka)
• सत्यात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; English: Neuter, Ablative singular

• ऊर्ध्वम्: upwards / above
• ऊर्ध्वम्: Adverbial (देश/दिशा-क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययप्रयोग)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) दिशाबोधक; English: adverb of direction

• क्षम-अन्तम्: up to Kṣamā (as the end)
• क्षम-अन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षमा + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—क्षमा-अन्त (तत्पुरुष: ‘ending at Kṣamā’); English: Neuter, Accusative singular

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय

• विष्णु-लोकाः: Viṣṇu-worlds
• विष्णु-लोकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—विष्णु-लोक (तत्पुरुष: ‘Viṣṇu’s worlds’); English: Masculine, Nominative plural

• चतुर्दश: fourteen
• चतुर्दश: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्दश (संख्याशब्द, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक विशेषण; ‘14’; English: numeral adjective

• क्षमा-लोके: in the Kṣamā-loka
• क्षमा-लोके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षमा + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः—क्षमा-लोक (तत्पुरुष); English: Locative singular

• कार्य-विष्णुः: Kārya-Viṣṇu (operative Viṣṇu)
• कार्य-विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य + विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कार्य-विष्णु (कर्मधारय: ‘Viṣṇu in functional/operative aspect’); English: Nominative singular

• वैकुण्ठे: in Vaikuṇṭha
• वैकुण्ठे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैकुण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; English: Locative singular

• वर-पत्तने: in the excellent city
• वर-पत्तने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर + पत्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—वर-पत्तन (कर्मधारय: ‘excellent city’); English: Locative singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: By distinguishing kārya-viṣṇu (functional preserver within the cosmos) from Vaikuṇṭha’s boon-bestowing Viṣṇu, the text reinforces hierarchical cosmology; in Śaiva Siddhānta this supports the claim that even the highest preservative realms remain within māyā’s order, while Paramaśiva transcends it.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Vaikuntha

FAQs

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

It maps the graded cosmic order by naming Viṣṇu’s higher realms, implying that even exalted divine abodes remain within the structured universe; Shaiva teaching uses such cosmology to point seekers toward liberation that culminates in the supreme refuge of Śiva beyond all lokas.

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

By distinguishing functional divine stations (like Kārya-Viṣṇu in a specific loka), the text encourages Saguna worship with clarity: the Liṅga is worshiped as Śiva, the supreme Pati, whose grace is not confined to any single cosmic realm and who grants final release rather than merely higher residence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to pursue Shiva-upāsanā—japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa—seeking Śiva’s grace for mokṣa rather than aiming only for ascent to higher lokas.