Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

ईशानमुकुटोपेत इत्यारभ्य पुरोदितः । शिवस्य विग्रहः पञ्चवक्त्राणि शृणु सांप्रतम्

Transliteration

īśānamukuṭopeta ityārabhya puroditaḥ | śivasya vigrahaḥ pañcavaktrāṇi śṛṇu sāṃpratam

Translation

Beginning with the words “adorned with the crown of Īśāna,” the form of Lord Śiva has already been described earlier. Now listen attentively as I speak of Śiva’s five faces.

Word by Word

• īśāna-mukuṭa-upetaḥ: endowed with the Īśāna-crown
• īśāna-mukuṭa-upetaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: īśāna (प्रातिपदिक) + mukuṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + upeta (कृदन्त, √i उप-इ)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masc), Prathamā (Nom, 1st), Ekavacana; upetaḥ = kta-participle used adjectivally; īśāna-mukuṭa = ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa/karma-dhāraya sense ‘īśānasya mukuṭaḥ’

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; quotation marker (iti-śabda)

• ārabhya: starting from
• ārabhya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √rabh (रभ्) + ā- (उपसर्ग) (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), gerund; ‘having begun/starting from’

• puroditaḥ: previously stated
• puroditaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puraḥ (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + udita (कृदन्त, √ud उद्)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; kta-participle ‘previously stated/uttered before’

• śivasya: of Śiva
• śivasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen, 6th), Ekavacana

• vigrahaḥ: form, embodiment
• vigrahaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vigraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nom, 1st), Ekavacana

• pañca-vaktrāṇi: the five faces
• pañca-vaktrāṇi: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañca (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + vaktra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (neut), Prathamā/Accusative (Nom/Acc, 1st/2nd), Bahuvacana; dvigu compound ‘five faces’

• śṛṇu: hear, listen
• śṛṇu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (श्रु) (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (Imperative), Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd person), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• sāṃpratam: now, at present
• sāṃpratam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sāṃprata (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययार्थ)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of time

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: ईशानमुकुटोपेतः … (pañcavaktra-varṇana-prastāva)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ishana

FAQs

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

It signals a shift from a general description of Śiva’s divine form to a focused contemplation of His five faces, guiding the devotee toward disciplined meditation on Saguna Śiva as a doorway to realizing Pati (the Lord) beyond limitation.

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

While the Liṅga points to Śiva’s formless (Nirguṇa) reality, this verse emphasizes His manifest (Saguṇa) icon-form—especially the Pañcavaktra—so devotees can worship with form, attributes, and contemplative detail, which Shaiva tradition treats as a valid means to grace (anugraha).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna (visual meditation) on Śiva’s five faces while reciting the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” optionally with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as aids to steadiness and devotion.