Shloka 45

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

Devanagari script

यंत्ररूपेणोपदिष्टः प्रणवश्शिववाचकः । समष्टिः पंचवर्णानां बिंद्वाद्यं यच्चतुष्टयम्

Transliteration

yaṃtrarūpeṇopadiṣṭaḥ praṇavaśśivavācakaḥ | samaṣṭiḥ paṃcavarṇānāṃ biṃdvādyaṃ yaccatuṣṭayam

Translation

The Praṇava (Oṁ), which signifies Śiva, is taught in the form of a yantra. It is the unified totality of the five sacred syllables, together with the fourfold set beginning with the bindu, the point of origin.

Word by Word

• यन्त्ररूपेण: in the form of a yantra / by yantra-form
• यन्त्ररूपेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यन्त्ररूप (प्रातिपदिक: यन्त्र+रूप)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष

• उपदिष्टः: is taught / has been instructed
• उपदिष्टः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप+दिश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; धातु: उप+दिश्

• प्रणवः: the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• शिववाचकः: denoting Śiva
• शिववाचकः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिववाचक (प्रातिपदिक: शिव+वाचक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of praṇavaḥ); तत्पुरुष: शिवं वाचयति/शिवस्य वाचकः

• समष्टिः: the aggregate/collective
• समष्टिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पञ्चवर्णानाम्: of the five letters
• पञ्चवर्णानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक: पञ्च+वर्ण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास

• बिन्द्वाद्यम्: beginning with the bindu
• बिन्द्वाद्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बिन्द्वाद्य (प्रातिपदिक: बिन्दु+आद्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of catuṣṭayam); तत्पुरुष: बिन्दुः आदिः यस्य

• यत्: which
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• चतुष्टयम्: a set of four
• चतुष्टयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुष्टय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva (as teacher of mantra and yoga in Kailāsasaṃhitā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: ॐ (प्रणवः) — शिववाचकः; (पञ्चवर्णसमष्टिः)

Type: panchakshara

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It identifies Oṁ (Pranava) as directly expressive of Shiva and presents it as a complete mantric reality—uniting the pañcākṣara with subtle inner principles like bindu—supporting Shaiva Siddhanta’s path of mantra leading the bound soul (paśu) toward Shiva (Pati).

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

By describing Pranava as ‘yantra-formed,’ the verse links sound (mantra) with form (yantra/linga as a support). Saguna worship uses such supports to steady the mind, through which devotion and awareness mature toward Shiva’s transcendent reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Japa of Oṁ and/or the pañcākṣara (Oṁ Namaḥ Śivāya), done with yantra-dhyāna—contemplating bindu and the mantric structure—especially as a steady daily sādhanā (and traditionally intensified on Mahāśivarātri).