Shloka 64

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

Inquiry into the Supreme Self and Gendered Forms

Devanagari script

शब्दैकगुण आकाशः शब्दस्पर्शगुणो मरुत् । शब्दस्पर्शरूपगुणप्रधानो वह्निरुच्यते

Transliteration

śabdaikaguṇa ākāśaḥ śabdasparśaguṇo marut | śabdasparśarūpaguṇapradhāno vahnirucyate

Translation

Ether (ākāśa) is said to possess sound as its sole quality. Wind (marut) possesses the qualities of sound and touch. Fire (vahni) is declared to be predominantly characterized by the qualities of sound, touch, and form (visibility).

Word by Word

• śabda-eka-guṇaḥ: having sound as the sole quality
• śabda-eka-guṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of ākāśaḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śabda (प्रातिपदिक) + eka (प्रातिपदिक) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom., Singular); तत्पुरुषः: शब्दः एव गुणः यस्य (having sound as the only quality)

• ākāśaḥ: ether, space
• ākāśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ākāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom., Singular)

• śabda-sparśa-guṇaḥ: having sound and touch as qualities
• śabda-sparśa-guṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of marut
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śabda (प्रातिपदिक) + sparśa (प्रातिपदिक) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom., Singular); तत्पुरुषः: शब्दश्च स्पर्शश्च गुणौ यस्य (having sound and touch as qualities)

• marut: wind, air
• marut: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: marut (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom., Singular)

• śabda-sparśa-rūpa-guṇa-pradhānaḥ: characterized by sound, touch, and form qualities
• śabda-sparśa-rūpa-guṇa-pradhānaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of vahniḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śabda (प्रातिपदिक) + sparśa (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + pradhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom., Singular); तत्पुरुषः: शब्द-स्पर्श-रूप-गुणैः प्रधानः (predominant/characterized by the qualities sound, touch, form)

• vahniḥ: fire
• vahniḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vahni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom., Singular)

• ucyate: is said/called
• ucyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive voice) (Present, Ātmanepada, 3rd person, Singular, Passive)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Tatpuruṣa

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: bhūta-guṇa-vivecana (enumeration of guṇas of ākāśa, vāyu, agni)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It maps how the gross elements arise with increasing sensory qualities (tanmātras), showing how embodied experience is structured; in Shaiva Siddhanta this supports discernment (viveka) so the soul (paśu) can loosen bondage (pāśa) and turn toward Shiva (Pati).

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

Linga-worship trains the mind to withdraw from sense-objects rooted in elemental qualities—sound, touch, and form—and to concentrate on Shiva as the inner reality behind the elements, moving from Saguna supports toward transcendence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice sense-restraint with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and dhyāna on Shiva, using the awareness of sound/touch/form as cues to return the mind from the elements to the Lord.