Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

व्यष्टिरूपेण संसिद्धं प्रणवे शिववाचके । यंत्ररूपं शृणु प्राज्ञ शिवलिंगं तदेव हि

Transliteration

vyaṣṭirūpeṇa saṃsiddhaṃ praṇave śivavācake | yaṃtrarūpaṃ śṛṇu prājña śivaliṃgaṃ tadeva hi

Translation

O wise one, listen: the Pranava “Om,” which directly expresses Śiva, is perfectly established in its individual (manifest) form; that very Pranava, in the form of a sacred yantra, is indeed the Śiva-liṅga.

Word by Word

• व्यष्टिरूपेण: in the individual form / by the individual form
• व्यष्टिरूपेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यष्टि+रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (व्यष्टेः रूपम्)

• संसिद्धम्: is accomplished/established
• संसिद्धम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संसिद्ध (कृदन्त; सम्+√सिध् (धातु))
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) ‘fully accomplished/established’

• प्रणवे: in the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• शिववाचके: denoting Śiva
• शिववाचके: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव+वाचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य वाचकः) विशेषणम् (प्रणवे)

• यंत्ररूपम्: the yantra-form
• यंत्ररूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यंत्र+रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (यंत्रस्य रूपम्)

• शृणु: hear
• शृणु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्राज्ञ: O wise one
• प्राज्ञ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• शिवलिंगम्: Śiva-liṅga
• शिवलिंगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव+लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य लिङ्गम्)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक निपात

• हि: for/indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक निपात (for/indeed)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Pranava (Om)
• Shiva Linga

FAQs

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

It identifies Om (Pranava) as a direct signifier of Shiva and teaches that the Shiva-liṅga functions as the yantra-form of that same Pranava—uniting mantra (sound) and form (support for worship) for liberation-oriented devotion.

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

The verse frames the liṅga as a concrete, worshipable support (saguṇa-upāsanā) that embodies the Pranava. By honoring the liṅga, the devotee approaches Shiva through a sacred form while contemplating the deeper, all-pervading reality indicated by Om.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Om as Shiva while performing liṅga-pūjā: mentally place the Pranava in the heart and regard the liṅga as its yantra-support, combining japa of Om (or Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady contemplation during worship.