Shloka 56

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

Inquiry into the Supreme Self and Gendered Forms

Devanagari script

चिदानन्दसमुत्पन्नौ नादबिन्दू प्रकीर्त्तितौ । इच्छाशक्तेर्मकारस्तु ज्ञानशक्तेस्तु पंचमः

Transliteration

cidānandasamutpannau nādabindū prakīrttitau | icchāśaktermakārastu jñānaśaktestu paṃcamaḥ

Translation

Arising from Consciousness and Bliss, the two principles are proclaimed as Nāda and Bindu. Among these, the letter “ma” is of the nature of the Power of Will (icchā-śakti), while the fifth (syllable/letter) pertains to the Power of Knowledge (jñāna-śakti).

Word by Word

• चित्-आनन्द-समुत्पन्नौ: arisen from consciousness and bliss
• चित्-आनन्द-समुत्पन्नौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित् (प्रातिपदिक) + आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + समुत्पन्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, सम्+उत्+√पद्/√पद्? → ‘समुत्पन्न’ रूढ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘चित्-आनन्दात् समुत्पन्नौ’

• नाद-बिन्दू: Nāda and Bindu
• नाद-बिन्दू: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाद (प्रातिपदिक) + बिन्दु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व

• प्रकीर्तितौ: are proclaimed
• प्रकीर्तितौ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √कीर्त् (धातु) → प्रकीर्तित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
• Form: भूतकृत् (past participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; कर्मणि (passive sense)

• इच्छा-शक्तेः: of the will-power
• इच्छा-शक्तेः: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इच्छा (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (icchāyāḥ śaktiḥ)

• मकारः: the letter ‘ma’
• मकारः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

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

• ज्ञान-शक्तेः: of the knowledge-power
• ज्ञान-शक्तेः: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (jñānasya śaktiḥ)

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

• पञ्चमः: the fifth
• पञ्चमः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक (ordinal)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: (implicit mapping) नाद-बिन्दु; ‘म’ (makāra) and ‘पञ्चम’ (fifth syllable) within the pañcākṣarī schema

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Subtle cosmogony: cid-ānanda → nāda-bindu → varṇa/mantra differentiation

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that mantra and creation-principles (Nāda and Bindu) arise from the divine ground of Consciousness-Bliss, and that liberation-oriented practice must integrate Shiva’s śakti as will (icchā) and knowledge (jñāna), not mere external ritual alone.

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

In Shaiva understanding, the Linga symbolizes the subtle union of Nāda and Bindu—dynamic vibration and seed-point—through which Saguna worship matures into inner realization of Shiva as Consciousness. Mantra-japa before the Linga is thus linked to these subtle principles.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice steady japa of Shiva-mantra (especially the Panchākṣarī in a Shaiva Siddhanta mood) while cultivating inner listening (nāda-anusandhāna) and one-pointedness (bindu-dhyāna), aligning intention (icchā) with clear understanding (jñāna).