Shloka 22

Paramātma-Svarūpa-Nirṇaya: Strī–Puṃ–Napuṃsaka-Vicāra

Inquiry into the Supreme Self and Gendered Forms

Devanagari script

ज्ञातव्यः परमेशानः परमात्मा न संशयः । स्त्रीपुंरूपमयं विश्वं प्रत्यक्षेणैव दृश्यते

Transliteration

jñātavyaḥ parameśānaḥ paramātmā na saṃśayaḥ | strīpuṃrūpamayaṃ viśvaṃ pratyakṣeṇaiva dṛśyate

Translation

Know Parameśāna to be the Supreme Self—of this there is no doubt. The entire universe, consisting of the forms of female and male, is indeed seen directly as His manifestation.

Word by Word

• ज्ञातव्यः: to be known
• ज्ञातव्यः: Karya (कार्य/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √jñā (ज्ञा) (धातु) + तव्यत्
• Form: Gerundive/Future passive participle (तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त); Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate adjective

• परमेशानः: the Supreme Lord
• परमेशानः: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama + īśāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; karmadhāraya: ‘परमः ईशानः’

• परमात्मा: the Supreme Self
• परमात्मा: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; karmadhāraya: ‘परमः आत्मा’

• न: not / no
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; used as predicate ‘(there is) no doubt’

• स्त्रीपुंरूपमयम्: consisting of female and male forms
• स्त्रीपुंरूपमयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: strī + puṃs + rūpa + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; adjective to ‘विश्वम्’; determinative: ‘स्त्री-पुं-रूपेण मयम्’ (filled with female & male forms)

• विश्वम्: the universe
• विश्वम्: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• प्रत्यक्षेण: by direct perception
• प्रत्यक्षेण: Karana (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratyakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; means/instrument

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle (अवधारण-निपात)

• दृश्यते: is seen
• दृश्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (दृश्) (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्/present), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; Ātmanepada; passive sense ‘is seen’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches certainty (niścaya) that Śiva as Parameśāna is the Paramātmā, and that the world’s dualities—especially male and female—are seen as His manifest play, guiding the seeker from divided perception toward God-centered recognition.

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

By affirming that the manifest universe is directly perceived as arising from the Supreme Lord, it supports Saguna worship (including Śiva-liṅga upāsanā) as a valid means to approach the Nirguna Paramātmā—worshipping the visible symbol while realizing the formless Supreme behind it.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Parameśāna as the inner Self while japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), training perception to see all dualities as dependent on Śiva; this aligns well with daily liṅga-pūjā and Tripuṇḍra-bhasma remembrance if practiced.