Shloka 75

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

Devanagari script

सांसारिकास्तदर्वाक्च मुक्ताः खलु तदूर्ध्वगाः । तदर्वाक्परिवर्तंते प्राकृतद्र व्यपूजकाः

Transliteration

sāṃsārikāstadarvākca muktāḥ khalu tadūrdhvagāḥ | tadarvākparivartaṃte prākṛtadra vyapūjakāḥ

Translation

Die an das weltliche Dasein Gebundenen bleiben unten; die Befreiten steigen wahrlich empor. Doch wer nur mit stofflichen Dingen verehrt, kehrt wieder um und fällt auf den niederen Pfad zurück.

Word by Word

• सांसारिकाः: worldly people
• सांसारिकाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सांसारिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘संसारसम्बद्धाः’

• तत्-अर्वाक्: below that
• तत्-अर्वाक्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अर्वाक् (अव्यय/दिक्शब्द)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययार्थे — ‘तदधः/तस्मात् अर्वाक्’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• मुक्ताः: liberated
• मुक्ताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्त (कृदन्त, √मुच् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• खलु: indeed
• खलु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: खलु (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (indeed, surely)

• तत्-ऊर्ध्व-गाः: going upward; above that
• तत्-ऊर्ध्व-गाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ग (कृदन्त, √गम् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘ऊर्ध्वं गच्छन्ति’

• तत्-अर्वाक्: below that
• तत्-अर्वाक्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अर्वाक् (अव्यय/दिक्शब्द)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययार्थे — ‘तदधः’

• परिवर्तन्ते: turn back; revolve; return
• परिवर्तन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि+वृत् (√वृत् धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• प्राकृत-द्रव्य-पूजकाः: worshippers of material (ordinary) substances
• प्राकृत-द्रव्य-पूजकाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राकृत (प्रातिपदिक) + द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजक (कृदन्त, √पूज् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘प्राकृतं द्रव्यं पूजयन्ति’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General doctrinal warning: mere external, material (prākṛta-dravya) worship without inner transformation keeps one returning to the lower course; liberation is ‘upward’.

Significance: Corrects ritualism: pilgrimage and offerings are secondary to inner niṣkāmatā and Śiva-grace; externalism alone does not break pāśa.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It distinguishes two trajectories: the bound soul (paśu) revolving in saṃsāra versus the liberated soul rising toward Shiva (Pati). Mere external religiosity without inner transformation keeps one returning to lower states.

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

Linga worship is meant to awaken devotion, purity, and Shiva-awareness; if it is reduced to only material offerings (dravya) without bhakti, jñāna, and surrender, it does not culminate in liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform puja with inner bhava: repeat the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), maintain Tripuṇḍra and Rudrākṣa with discipline, and meditate on Shiva beyond mere offering-ritual so worship becomes liberating rather than mechanical.