Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

पुरुषः श्रोत्रवाण्यौ च शब्दकाशौ च पंचकम् । व्याप्तमीशानरूपेण ब्रह्मणा मुनिसत्तम

Transliteration

puruṣaḥ śrotravāṇyau ca śabdakāśau ca paṃcakam | vyāptamīśānarūpeṇa brahmaṇā munisattama

Translation

O best of sages, the fivefold set—Puruṣa, hearing (the ear), speech, sound, and ether—was pervaded by Brahmā in the form of Īśāna, the sovereign aspect of Śiva.

Word by Word

• पुरुषः: Puruṣa
• पुरुषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• श्रोत्र-वाण्यौ: ear and speech
• श्रोत्र-वाण्यौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रोत्र + वाणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dual (द्विवचन), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा); dvandva of two members: श्रोत्रम् (n.) + वाणी (f.) → collective dual; treated as a pair

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• शब्द-काशौ: sound and light
• शब्द-काशौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्द + काश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dual (द्विवचन), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा); dvandva: शब्दः (m.) + काशः (m., ‘light/illumination’)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• पञ्चकम्: the group of five
• पञ्चकम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); collective ‘set of five’

• व्याप्तम्: pervaded
• व्याप्तम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्याप् (धातु) → व्याप्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); agreeing with ‘पञ्चकम्’

• ईशान-रूपेण: by the form of Īśāna
• ईशान-रूपेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईशान + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); ‘in/through the form of Īśāna’

• ब्रह्मणा: by Brahman / by Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणा: Karaṇa/Agent-in-passive (करण/कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• मुनि-सत्तम: O best of sages
• मुनि-सत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Ishana

FAQs

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

It teaches that even the subtle bases of experience—sound, space, and the faculties of hearing and speech—are not independent; they are permeated and governed by Īśāna, the lordly Shiva-principle, pointing to Shiva as the inner ruler (Pati) of all tattvas.

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

Īśāna is a Saguna revelation of Shiva’s sovereignty: worship of the Liṅga trains the devotee to see the same all-pervading lordship in every level of manifestation, including mantra (sound) and inner space (ākāśa) where the Liṅga is contemplated.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as Īśāna pervading nāda (inner sound) and ākāśa (inner space), and sanctify speech through japa—especially the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—so that hearing and speaking become instruments of Shiva-awareness.