Shloka 25

प्रणवार्थ-शिवतत्त्व-निर्णयः

The Determination of Śiva as the Meaning of Praṇava

Devanagari script

वर्णाश्रमाचारपुण्यैरभ्यर्च्य परमेश्वरम् । तत्सायुज्यं गतास्सर्वे बहवो मुनिसत्तमाः

Transliteration

varṇāśramācārapuṇyairabhyarcya parameśvaram | tatsāyujyaṃ gatāssarve bahavo munisattamāḥ

Translation

Having worshipped the Supreme Lord (Parameśvara) through the meritorious duties of varṇa and āśrama, many of those foremost sages all attained sāyujya—union in nearness with Him.

Word by Word

• वर्ण-आश्रम-आचार-पुण्यैः: by the merits of varṇa- and āśrama- conduct
• वर्ण-आश्रम-आचार-पुण्यैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक) + आचार (प्रातिपदिक) + पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); means/qualification: 'by/with the merits of ...'

• अभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• अभ्यर्च्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√arc (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय, ल्यप्): 'having worshipped'

• परमेश्वरम्: the Supreme Lord
• परमेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• तत्-सायुज्यम्: that union/identity (with Him)
• तत्-सायुज्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + सायुज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• गताः: attained/went to
• गताः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम् (धातु)
• Form: Past active participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); predicate of subject

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता) as qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifier of 'मुनिसत्तमाः'

• बहवः: many
• बहवः: Karta (कर्ता) as qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifier of 'मुनिसत्तमाः'

• मुनि-सत्तमाः: best of sages
• मुनि-सत्तमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Affirms that disciplined varṇāśrama conduct, when offered as worship to Parameśvara, culminates (by Śiva’s grace) in sāyujya/communion—used as a motivational teaching for aspirants.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that disciplined living according to one’s dharma (varṇa-āśrama conduct), when offered as worship to Parameśvara Śiva, becomes a direct means to liberation—culminating in sāyujya, a state of intimate union through Śiva’s grace.

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

The verse frames worship as not only temple-ritual but also dharma lived as an offering to Saguna Śiva (Parameśvara). In practice, such worship commonly centers on the Śiva-liṅga with devotion, purity, and right conduct, making daily life itself liṅga-sevā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It implies integrating daily duties with Śiva-upāsanā: regular liṅga-pūjā, japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and maintaining purity and discipline—treating all prescribed conduct as worship dedicated to Śiva.