Shloka 37

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

Inquiry into the Supreme Self and Gendered Forms

Devanagari script

प्रतिलोमात्मके हंसे वक्ष्यामि प्रणवोद्भवम् । तव स्नेहाद्वामदेव सावधानतया शृणु

Transliteration

pratilomātmake haṃse vakṣyāmi praṇavodbhavam | tava snehādvāmadeva sāvadhānatayā śṛṇu

Translation

O Vāmadeva, out of affection for you I shall explain the arising of the Pranava (Om) within the Haṃsa principle—even in its reverse order. Listen with full attentiveness.

Word by Word

• प्रतिलोमात्मके: in/with the reverse-natured
• प्रतिलोमात्मके: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pratiloma-ātmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (प्रतिलोमः आत्मा/स्वभावः यस्य), पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• हंसे: in the Haṃsa (mantra/principle)
• हंसे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: haṃsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• वक्ष्यामि: I shall explain
• वक्ष्यामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच्, धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• प्रणवोद्भवम्: the origin arising from Oṃ (praṇava)
• प्रणवोद्भवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praṇava-udbhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (प्रणवात् उद्भवः), पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (2nd person pronoun), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• स्नेहात्: from affection; due to affection
• स्नेहात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sneha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• वामदेव: O Vāmadeva
• वामदेव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāma-deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (वामः देवः), पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• सावधानतया: with attentiveness
• सावधानतया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāvadhānatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; भाववाचक (abstract noun)

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (श्रु, धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadashiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Vamadeva
• Pranava (Om)
• Hamsa

FAQs

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

The verse frames Om (Pranava) as a direct yogic revelation within the Haṃsa principle, indicating that attentive listening and right understanding of mantra leads the soul (paśu) toward the Lord (Pati) and liberation.

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

Pranava is a primary sonic form of Shiva’s presence; meditating on Om supports Saguna worship (including Linga-upasana) by concentrating the mind, while also pointing beyond form toward Shiva’s supreme, transcendent reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Focused pranava-japa and Haṃsa contemplation (linking breath with mantra awareness) is suggested—listening, retaining, and meditating carefully on Om as taught by Shiva.