Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

प्रणवार्त्थपरिज्ञानरूपं तद्विस्तरादहम् । वदामि षड्विधार्थैक्य परिज्ञानेन सुव्रत

Transliteration

praṇavārtthaparijñānarūpaṃ tadvistarādaham | vadāmi ṣaḍvidhārthaikya parijñānena suvrata

Translation

O you of excellent vows, I shall explain in detail that realization which is the knowledge of the true meaning of the Praṇava (Oṃ), attained through understanding the unity of its sixfold meanings.

Word by Word

• praṇava-artha-parijñāna-rūpam: the form (nature) of the knowledge of the meaning of Praṇava
• praṇava-artha-parijñāna-rūpam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praṇava (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक) + parijñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (प्रथमा/1st case), Ekavacana (एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (निर्धारण/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषभावः): 'प्रणवस्य अर्थस्य परिज्ञानस्य रूपम्'

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (द्वितीया/2nd case), Ekavacana (एकवचन); सर्वनाम

• vistarāt: in detail
• vistarāt: Apādāna (अपादान/Source; 'in detail/from expansion')
• Type: Noun
• Root: vistara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Pañcamī (पञ्चमी/5th case, Ablative), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (सामान्यतः), Prathamā (प्रथमा/1st case), Ekavacana (एकवचन); सर्वनाम

• vadāmi: I speak / I shall tell
• vadāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vad (वद् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्/Present), Prathama? -> Uttama-puruṣa (उत्तमपुरुष/1st person), Ekavacana (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• ṣaḍ-vidha-artha-aikyam: the unity of the sixfold meanings
• ṣaḍ-vidha-artha-aikyam: Karma (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaṭ (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + vidha (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक) + aikya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (द्वितीया/2nd case), Ekavacana (एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः: 'षड्विधानाम् अर्थानाम् ऐक्यम्'

• parijñānena: by (means of) understanding/knowledge
• parijñānena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parijñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (तृतीया/3rd case, Instrumental), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• suvrata: O one of good vows
• suvrata: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su-vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative), Ekavacana (एकवचन); कर्मधारयः—'सु (शोभनं) व्रतम् यस्य' (प्रशंसार्थ संबोधन)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Praṇava-artha-jñāna is presented as a liberating upadeśa; in Siddhānta, such jñāna becomes effective when sealed by Śiva’s anugraha.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: Oṃ (praṇava)

Type: gayatri

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse frames Praṇava (Oṃ) as a direct means of realization: by discerning its layered (sixfold) meanings and their essential unity, the seeker gains integrated knowledge leading toward liberation under Shiva’s grace.

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

In Shaiva practice, Oṃ is invoked at the beginning of Linga worship and mantra-japa; understanding its unified meaning supports moving from Saguna devotion (worship with form) toward grasping Shiva’s higher, all-pervading reality (Nirguna) without rejecting devotional worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice Praṇava-japa (Oṃ) with contemplative inquiry into its meanings, ideally as part of daily Shiva worship—beginning with purification (bhasma/tripundra where customary) and steady breath-focused meditation to unify understanding and devotion.