Shloka 84
Paramātma-Svarūpa-Nirṇaya: Strī–Puṃ–Napuṃsaka-Vicāra
Inquiry into the Supreme Self and Gendered Forms
एतत्पंचकमेवास्य स्वरूपा वारकत्वतः । पञ्चकञ्चुकमाख्यातमन्तरंगं च साधनम्
etatpaṃcakamevāsya svarūpā vārakatvataḥ | pañcakañcukamākhyātamantaraṃgaṃ ca sādhanam
This very set of five, because it veils his true nature, is called the “five-fold sheath” (pañcakañcuka); and it is also proclaimed to be an inner means (antaraṅga-sādhana) to be understood and transcended.
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Role: teaching
FAQs
It identifies the “five-fold sheath” (pañcakañcuka) as the set of limitations that conceal the soul’s true Shiva-nature, and emphasizes that recognizing and transcending these coverings is an inner, liberating discipline.
Saguna worship (such as Linga-pūjā) supports inner purification; this verse points to the deeper aim—removing the veils that obscure direct awareness of Shiva—so outer worship becomes a means toward inner unveiling.
The verse primarily points to inner sādhana: contemplation on the soul’s bondage and the coverings that limit it, supported by Shaiva disciplines like japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), dhyāna, and purity practices aligned with Shiva worship.