Shloka 86

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

Devanagari script

क्षमाशृङ्गः शमश्रोत्रो वेदध्वनिविभूषितः । आस्तिक्यचक्षुर्निश्वासगुरुबुद्धिमना वृषः

Transliteration

kṣamāśṛṅgaḥ śamaśrotro vedadhvanivibhūṣitaḥ | āstikyacakṣurniśvāsagurubuddhimanā vṛṣaḥ

Translation

Der Stier (Vṛṣa) des Dharma, dessen Hörner Nachsicht sind und dessen Ohren Ruhe, ist mit dem Widerhall der Veden geschmückt. Seine Augen sind Glaube, und sein Atem selbst ist Verehrung des Guru; sein Geist ist standhaft, erfüllt von edler Einsicht.

Word by Word

• क्षमाशृङ्गः: (one) whose horns are forbearance
• क्षमाशृङ्गः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣamā (प्रातिपदिक) + śṛṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (क्षमाः शृङ्गे यस्य सः)

• शमश्रोत्रः: (one) whose ears are tranquility
• शमश्रोत्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śama (प्रातिपदिक) + śrotra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (शमः श्रोत्रे यस्य सः)

• वेदध्वनिविभूषितः: adorned with the sound of the Veda
• वेदध्वनिविभूषितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + dhvani (प्रातिपदिक) + vibhūṣita (विभूषित, कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘विभूषित’; तत्पुरुष-समासः (वेदध्वनिना विभूषितः)

• आस्तिक्यचक्षुः: (one) whose eyes are faith (theism)
• आस्तिक्यचक्षुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āstikya (प्रातिपदिक) + cakṣus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (आस्तिक्यं चक्षुः यस्य सः)

• निश्वासगुरुबुद्धिमना: (one) whose breath, intellect and mind are weighty/steadfast
• निश्वासगुरुबुद्धिमना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśvāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + guru (प्रातिपदिक) + buddhi (प्रातिपदिक) + manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (निश्वासः गुरुर्बुद्धिः मनः यस्य सः / यस्य मनः गुरुबुद्धि-निश्वासयुक्तम्)

• वृषः: bull
• वृषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Ethical purification (dharma-lakṣaṇa) as the inner ‘vehicle’ for approaching Paśupati; cultivation of kṣamā, śama, āstikya, and guru-bhakti as prerequisites for Śiva-anugraha.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents Dharma as a living support for Shiva-oriented life: forbearance, inner calm, faith, reverence to the Guru, and Vedic orientation become the “limbs” by which the seeker is stabilized and guided toward Shiva (Pati) and liberation.

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

Linga-worship is upheld not only by outer rites but by inner qualities—kshama, shama, astikya, and guru-bhakti—through which devotion becomes pure and fit to receive Saguna Shiva’s grace, ultimately leading the devotee toward the higher, transcendent understanding.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa with Vedic/Shiva mantras (especially Panchakshara) with a calm mind (shama), cultivate forgiveness (kshama), and maintain guru-reverence; these are the inner disciplines that make external worship (such as Linga-puja with bhasma and rudraksha) spiritually effective.