Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

वेदाः प्रणवसम्भूताः प्रणवार्थो महेश्वरः । अतो महेश्वरस्थानं त्वयि धिष्ण्यम्प्रतिष्ठितम्

Transliteration

vedāḥ praṇavasambhūtāḥ praṇavārtho maheśvaraḥ | ato maheśvarasthānaṃ tvayi dhiṣṇyampratiṣṭhitam

Translation

The Vedas arise from the Praṇava (Oṁ), and the true meaning of that Praṇava is Maheśvara Himself. Therefore, Maheśvara’s sacred seat—His own abode—stands established in you as His consecrated dwelling-place.

Word by Word

• vedāḥ: the Vedas
• vedāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• praṇava-sambhūtāḥ: arisen from Praṇava (Oṃ)
• praṇava-sambhūtāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: praṇava (प्रातिपदिक) + sambhūta (प्रातिपदिक; सम्+भू-धातोः क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; पञ्चमी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्रणवात्/प्रणवस्य सम्भूताः)

• praṇava-arthaḥ: the meaning of Praṇava
• praṇava-arthaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praṇava (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्रणवस्य अर्थः)

• maheśvaraḥ: Maheśvara (Śiva)
• maheśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maheśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• ataḥ: therefore
• ataḥ: Hetu-bodhaka (हेतुबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक निपात/क्रियाविशेषण "therefore/from this"

• maheśvara-sthānam: the abode/seat of Maheśvara
• maheśvara-sthānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maheśvara (प्रातिपदिक) + sthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (महेश्वरस्य स्थानम्)

• tvayi: in you
• tvayi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; मध्यमपुरुष

• dhiṣṇyam: sacred seat/holy place
• dhiṣṇyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhiṣṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• pratiṣṭhitam: established
• pratiṣṭhitam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa / Predicative (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pratiṣṭhita (प्रातिपदिक; प्रति+स्था-धातोः क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भावे (past passive participle)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames Śiva as the inner purport (artha) of Oṃ and thus the ultimate refuge; pilgrimage here is primarily jñāna-yātrā—approaching the Guru/Śiva-tattva through praṇava-vicāra.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: oṃ (praṇava)

Type: gayatri

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It identifies Oṁ (Praṇava) as the source of Vedic revelation and declares Śiva (Maheśvara) as Oṁ’s ultimate meaning—teaching that true knowledge culminates in recognizing Pati (the Lord) as the inner essence of scripture.

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

By saying Maheśvara’s ‘seat’ is established as a consecrated abode, the verse supports the Shaiva understanding that the Lord graciously abides in a sanctified locus—such as the Liṅga—so devotees may approach the transcendent (Nirguṇa) through a worshipable presence (Saguṇa).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Oṁ as Śiva’s very form and meaning, and perform Liṅga-pūjā with Praṇava-japa (or pañcākṣarī ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’), contemplating the deity as truly present in the consecrated seat (dhīṣṇya).