Shloka 94

प्रणवार्थ-शिवतत्त्व-निर्णयः

The Determination of Śiva as the Meaning of Praṇava

Devanagari script

परमात्मानमपि च प्रणवाद्यं नमोंतकम् । चतुर्थ्यन्तं जपित्वाऽथ सक्तुमुष्टिं प्रगृह्य च

Transliteration

paramātmānamapi ca praṇavādyaṃ namoṃtakam | caturthyantaṃ japitvā'tha saktumuṣṭiṃ pragṛhya ca

Translation

Then, having repeated in japa the sacred formula that begins with Oṃ and ends with “namaḥ,” in the dative—addressed even to the Supreme Self—he should thereafter take up in his hand a fistful of barley-flour (saktu).

Word by Word

• परमात्मानम्: the Supreme Self
• परमात्मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (परमः आत्मा)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), ‘also/even’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• प्रणव-आद्यम्: beginning with ‘praṇava’ (Oṃ)
• प्रणव-आद्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (आदि=प्रथमः; ‘प्रणवः आदिः यस्य’)

• नमः-अन्तकम्: ending with ‘namaḥ’
• नमः-अन्तकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नमः (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-रूप) + अन्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘नमः’ अन्ते यस्य)

• चतुर्थी-अन्तम्: ending in the dative (4th case)
• चतुर्थी-अन्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्थी (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (चतुर्थी-प्रत्ययान्त/चतुर्थ्यन्त)

• जपित्वा: having recited
• जपित्वा: Kriya (क्रिया—पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण (absolutive/gerund), ‘having recited’

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/अनन्तर-बोधक (then/thereupon)

• सक्तु-मुष्टिम्: a handful of flour/meal
• सक्तु-मुष्टिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सक्तु (प्रातिपदिक) + मुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (सक्तूनां मुष्टिः)

• प्रगृह्य: having taken
• प्रगृह्य: Kriya (क्रिया—पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण (gerund), ‘having taken/held’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: oṃ … namaḥ (caturthyantaṃ)

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It links inner practice (japa of a Shiva-mantra beginning with Oṃ) with outer worship (a simple offering), showing that devotion to Shiva as Paramātman is expressed through disciplined mantra and humble ritual action.

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

The verse frames Shiva as the Supreme Self while prescribing a concrete ritual step, reflecting the Shaiva approach where Saguna worship (offerings and rites) supports realization of Shiva’s transcendent nature.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform mantra-japa of a formula starting with Oṃ and ending with “namaḥ” (addressed in the dative, i.e., ‘to …’), then proceed with an offering using a fistful of saktu (barley-flour), indicating a mantra-led offering sequence.