Shloka 47

Vāmadeva-mata: Rahasya-upadeśa

The Esoteric Teaching of Vāmadeva’s Doctrine

Devanagari script

प्रणवो हि परः साक्षात्परमेश्वरवाचकः । वाच्यः पशुपतिर्देवः पशूनां पाशमोचकः

Transliteration

praṇavo hi paraḥ sākṣātparameśvaravācakaḥ | vācyaḥ paśupatirdevaḥ paśūnāṃ pāśamocakaḥ

Translation

Verily, the supreme Praṇava (Oṁ) directly denotes the Supreme Lord. The One denoted by it is Deva Paśupati—the Lord of bound souls—who releases beings from the fetters (pāśas) that bind them.

Word by Word

• प्रणवः: the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हि: indeed / for
• हि: Nipata (निपात/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• परः: supreme
• परः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; प्रणवः इति विशेषणम्

• साक्षात्: directly / in person
• साक्षात्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (directly/manifestly)

• परमेश्वर-वाचकः: denoting the Supreme Lord
• परमेश्वर-वाचकः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम-ईश्वर + वाचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (परमेश्वरस्य वाचकः)

• वाच्यः: to be expressed/indicated
• वाच्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच् (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/‘to be said/expressed’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; पशुपतिः इति विशेषणम्

• पशुपतिः: Paśupati (Lord of beings)
• पशुपतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु-पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पशूनां पतिः)

• देवः: the god
• देवः: Karta (कर्ता/Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; पशुपतिः इत्यस्य समानाधिकरणम्

• पशूनाम्: of the creatures
• पशूनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• पाश-मोचकः: the releaser from bonds
• पाश-मोचकः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाश + मोचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पाशस्य मोचकः)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: ॐ (Praṇava)

Type: gayatri

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It identifies Oṁ (Praṇava) as the direct indicator of Parameśvara and presents Shiva as Paśupati—the liberator who cuts the soul’s bonds (pāśas), aligning with the Shaiva Siddhanta triad of Pati–Paśu–Pāśa.

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

Praṇava is used in Linga worship and mantra-japa as the sonic form that points to Shiva; through Saguna worship (Linga, icon, rites) the devotee approaches the same Paśupati who grants release from bondage.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice Praṇava japa (Oṁ) with contemplation of Shiva as Paśupati, praying for release from pāśas; it can be integrated with Shiva-pūjā and disciplined meditation (dhyāna) for liberation-oriented devotion.