Shloka 12

Ṣaḍvidhārtha-Parijñāna: Praṇavārtha and the Sixfold Unity of Meaning (षड्विधार्थपरिज्ञानम् / प्रणवार्थपरिज्ञानम्)

Devanagari script

तत्र मन्त्रस्वरूपन्ते वदामि मुनिसत्तम । येन विज्ञातमात्रेण महाज्ञानी भवेन्नरः

Transliteration

tatra mantrasvarūpante vadāmi munisattama | yena vijñātamātreṇa mahājñānī bhavennaraḥ

Translation

There, O best of sages, I shall declare to you the very nature of the mantra—by the mere understanding of which a person becomes a great knower of truth.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there/in that context
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• मन्त्र-स्वरूपम्: the mantra’s true form
• मन्त्र-स्वरूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘मन्त्रस्य स्वरूपम्’ (the nature/form of the mantra)

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; enclitic pronoun

• वदामि: I speak/tell
• वदामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), परस्मैपद; 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular

• मुनि-सत्तम: O best of sages
• मुनि-सत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; तत्पुरुष: ‘मुनीनां सत्तमः’ (best among sages)

• येन: by which
• येन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; relative pronoun

• विज्ञात-मात्रेण: by mere knowing (it)
• विज्ञात-मात्रेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि-ज्ञा (धातु) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष: ‘विज्ञातस्य मात्रम्’ → ‘mere knowing’; instrumental of means

• महा-ज्ञानी: a great knower
• महा-ज्ञानी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञानी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; कर्मधारय: ‘महान् ज्ञानी’ (a great knower)

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular

• नरः: a man/person
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It elevates mantra from mere sound to tattva (essential truth): understanding the mantra’s inner nature awakens jñāna that leads the soul (paśu) toward Shiva (Pati) and freedom from bonds (pāśa).

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

In Shaiva practice, Saguna worship (Linga, puja, japa) is supported by right understanding; this verse emphasizes that knowing the mantra’s meaning refines external worship into inner realization of Shiva’s presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Mantra-japa with contemplation (bhāvana) on the mantra’s meaning—repeating it steadily while meditating on Shiva as the indwelling Lord—so that practice becomes knowledge-bearing rather than mechanical recitation.