Shloka 13

व्यासशौनकादिसंवादः | Vyāsa–Śaunaka and the Sages: Opening Dialogue of the Kailāsa-saṃhitā

Devanagari script

ते तु संहृष्टहृदयं ज्ञात्वा तं वै मुनीश्वराः । प्रणवार्थावगत्यर्थमूचुः प्रास्ताविकं वचः

Transliteration

te tu saṃhṛṣṭahṛdayaṃ jñātvā taṃ vai munīśvarāḥ | praṇavārthāvagatyarthamūcuḥ prāstāvikaṃ vacaḥ

Translation

But those lordly sages, perceiving that he was inwardly delighted, spoke introductory words—so that the meaning of the Praṇava (Oṃ) might be properly understood.

Word by Word

• ते: they
• ते: कर्ता (kartā/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: निपात (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (contrastive particle)

• संहृष्टहृदयम्: him whose heart was delighted
• संहृष्टहृदयम्: विशेषण (of तम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संहृष्ट + हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि-समासः (‘संहृष्टं हृदयं यस्य तम्’)

• ज्ञात्वा: having understood
• ज्ञात्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (kriyā-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; ‘having known/understood’

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (object of ज्ञात्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: निपात (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• मुनीश्वराः: lords among sages
• मुनीश्वराः: कर्ता (kartā/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (मुनीनां ईश्वराः)

• प्रणव: the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणव: सम्बन्ध (in compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (in compound), एकवचन

• अर्थ: meaning
• अर्थ: सम्बन्ध (in compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (in compound), एकवचन

• अवगति: understanding
• अवगति: सम्बन्ध (in compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवगति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (in compound), एकवचन

• अर्थम्: for the purpose of understanding the meaning of Oṃ
• अर्थम्: प्रयोजन (purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समस्तपदम्: प्रणव-अर्थ-अवगति-अर्थम् (purpose)

• ऊचुः: said
• ऊचुः: क्रिया (action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• प्रास्ताविकम्: introductory
• प्रास्ताविकम्: विशेषण (of वचः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रास्ताविक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वचः: speech/words
• वचः: कर्म (object of ऊचुः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

The sages (Munīśvaras)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: oṃ (praṇava)

Type: gayatri

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Praṇava (Om)

FAQs

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

It marks a deliberate transition into Praṇava-artha (the meaning of Oṃ), indicating that true understanding arises when the seeker’s heart is receptive and the teaching is given in a proper, graded introduction—leading toward Shiva-tattva and liberation by knowledge supported by Shiva’s grace.

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

Praṇava (Oṃ) functions as a seed of worship and contemplation: it can be meditated upon as the subtle sound-form pointing to Shiva beyond attributes (nirguṇa) while also supporting devotion to Shiva’s manifest presence (saguṇa), including Linga-upāsanā, by focusing the mind and sanctifying speech.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditative japa and contemplation on Oṃ (Praṇava) with intent to understand its meaning—performed with steadiness and purity—serves as the implied practice, preparing the aspirant for deeper Shaiva instruction and mantra-based worship.