Shloka 43

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

Inquiry into the Supreme Self and Gendered Forms

Devanagari script

शक्त्यात्मकश्शिवांशश्च शिवैक्याच्छिवसाम्यभाक् । प्रज्ञानं ब्रह्मवाक्ये तु प्रज्ञानार्थः प्रदृश्यते

Transliteration

śaktyātmakaśśivāṃśaśca śivaikyācchivasāmyabhāk | prajñānaṃ brahmavākye tu prajñānārthaḥ pradṛśyate

Translation

That (self) which is of the nature of Śakti is also a portion of Śiva; and through oneness with Śiva it attains equality with Śiva. Therefore, in the Brahma‑sentence “prajñānam brahma” (Consciousness is Brahman), the intended meaning is seen to be that very supreme Consciousness (as Śiva).

Word by Word

• शक्ति-आत्मकः: of the nature of Śakti
• शक्ति-आत्मकः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• शिव-अंशः: a portion/aspect of Śiva
• शिव-अंशः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (śivasya aṃśaḥ)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• शिव-ऐक्यात्: from unity with Śiva
• शिव-ऐक्यात्: Apādāna (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + ऐक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘शिवस्य ऐक्यात्’

• शिव-साम्य-भाक्: attaining equality with Śiva
• शिव-साम्य-भाक्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + साम्य (प्रातिपदिक) + भज् (धातु) → भाक् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्विप्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘शिवसाम्यं भजते/लभते’

• प्रज्ञानम्: prajñāna (consciousness/knowledge)
• प्रज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (रूपसाम्य)

• ब्रह्म-वाक्ये: in the Brahma-vākya (Upaniṣadic statement)
• ब्रह्म-वाक्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘ब्रह्मणः वाक्ये’

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• प्रज्ञान-अर्थः: the meaning of prajñāna
• प्रज्ञान-अर्थः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (prajñānasya arthaḥ)

• प्रदृश्यते: is seen/appears
• प्रदृश्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense: ‘is seen’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kailāsa teachings in the Shiva Purana to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: प्रज्ञानं ब्रह्म (prajñānaṃ brahma)

Type: gayatri

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti
• Brahman

FAQs

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

It teaches that the individual’s inner power (Śakti) is not separate from Śiva; by realizing unity with Śiva, one attains Śiva‑sāmya (likeness/equality), i.e., liberation through true knowledge of Consciousness.

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

Linga worship trains the mind to recognize the one Conscious Reality behind form; the verse points from Saguna devotion (Śiva as worshipped) to the realized truth that the worshipper’s prajñāna (awareness) is grounded in Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on prajñāna (pure awareness) while repeating the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” contemplating Śiva‑Śakti as one—letting mantra and inner awareness merge into steadiness (samādhi).