Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

शिवोपदिष्टमार्गेण यंत्ररूपं विभावयेत् । प्रणवम्परमं मन्त्राधिराजं शिवरूपिणम्

Transliteration

śivopadiṣṭamārgeṇa yaṃtrarūpaṃ vibhāvayet | praṇavamparamaṃ mantrādhirājaṃ śivarūpiṇam

Translation

Following the method taught by Śiva, one should contemplate the yantra-form; and contemplate the supreme Praṇava (Oṁ), the sovereign king of mantras, which is of the very form of Śiva.

Word by Word

• शिवोपदिष्टमार्गेण: by the path taught by Śiva
• शिवोपदिष्टमार्गेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवोपदिष्टमार्ग (प्रातिपदिक: शिव+उपदिष्ट+मार्ग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (मार्गः शिवेन उपदिष्टः)

• यन्त्ररूपम्: the yantra-form
• यन्त्ररूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यन्त्ररूप (प्रातिपदिक: यन्त्र+रूप)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• विभावयेत्: should contemplate/visualize
• विभावयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+भावय् (धातु: भावयति-प्रयोग, √भू causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/Potential), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रणवम्: the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of praṇavam)

• मन्त्राधिराजम्: king of mantras
• मन्त्राधिराजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्राधिराज (प्रातिपदिक: मन्त्र+अधिराज)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: मन्त्राणाम् अधिराजः

• शिवरूपिणम्: having the form of Śiva
• शिवरूपिणम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिवरूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक: शिव+रूपिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of praṇavam)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: प्रणवम् (ॐ) परमं मन्त्राधिराजं शिवरूपिणम्

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that the highest meditation is to follow Shiva’s own instruction by uniting yantra-dhyāna (form-based contemplation) with Praṇava-dhyāna, recognizing Oṁ as the supreme mantra and as Shiva Himself—leading the soul (paśu) toward release from bonds (pāśa) under the grace of the Lord (Pati).

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

Yantra contemplation supports saguna-upāsanā by giving a sacred, structured form for focus—similar to meditating on the Liṅga—while Praṇava points to Shiva’s supreme reality, allowing worship to mature from form-supported devotion into deeper realization of Shiva’s all-pervading presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice focused dhyāna by visualizing the prescribed yantra as taught in the Shaiva tradition, and then (or alongside it) meditate on Oṁ (Praṇava) as the mantrādhirāja, internally identifying it with Shiva’s presence.