Shloka 1

Śiva-Śakti Tattva, Varṇa-Rahasya, and Mahāvākya-Bhāvanā

Interpretive Discipline

Devanagari script

प्रज्ञानं ब्रह्मवाक्यार्थः पूर्वमेव प्रबोधितः । अहंपदस्यार्थभूतः शक्त्यात्मा परमेश्वरः

Transliteration

prajñānaṃ brahmavākyārthaḥ pūrvameva prabodhitaḥ | ahaṃpadasyārthabhūtaḥ śaktyātmā parameśvaraḥ

Translation

The meaning of the Brahma-utterance “prajñānaṃ brahma” has already been explained earlier. The Supreme Lord (Parameśvara)—whose very nature is Śakti—is the true import of the word “I” (ahaṃ).

Word by Word

• प्रज्ञानम्: consciousness/knowledge
• प्रज्ञानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• ब्रह्म-वाक्य-अर्थः: the meaning of Brahman’s statement
• ब्रह्म-वाक्य-अर्थः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘ब्रह्मणः वाक्यस्य अर्थः’

• पूर्वम्: previously
• पूर्वम्: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• प्रबोधितः: was explained
• प्रबोधितः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √बुध् (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) — ‘has been explained/awakened’

• अहम्-पदस्य: of the word ‘I’
• अहम्-पदस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘अहमिति पदम्’

• अर्थ-भूतः: being the meaning (thereof)
• अर्थ-भूतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (कृदन्त; √भू + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘अर्थरूपेण भूतः’ (being in the form of the meaning)

• शक्ति-आत्मा: whose essence is power
• शक्ति-आत्मा: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘शक्तिरूप आत्मा’

• परम-ईश्वरः: the Supreme Lord
• परम-ईश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘परमः ईश्वरः’

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: prajñānaṃ brahma (mahāvākya)

Type: gayatri

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Lalitā

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti

FAQs

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

It identifies the deepest “I” (aham) not as ego, but as the presence of Parameśvara—consciousness inseparable from Śakti—pointing the seeker toward liberation through right knowledge.

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

By teaching that the inner ‘I’ is Parameśvara, it supports Saguna worship (Liṅga, mantra, pūjā) as a disciplined means to recognize the same Shiva within, culminating in inner realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate the sense of “I” during japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), offering the ego into Śiva, and meditate on Shiva-Śakti unity while maintaining purity through Shaiva daily observances.