Shloka 38

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

Interpretive Discipline

Devanagari script

पञ्च ब्रह्माणि विन्यस्य शिरः पादावसानकम् । मुण्डवत्क्रकलाभेदैः प्रणवस्य कला अपि

Transliteration

pañca brahmāṇi vinyasya śiraḥ pādāvasānakam | muṇḍavatkrakalābhedaiḥ praṇavasya kalā api

Translation

Having performed nyāsa by placing the five Brahmas from the head down to the feet, and also the subtle divisions of the Pranava (Oṁ), distinguished in sections like the joints and segments of the body, one should contemplate the Lord pervading the entire form as the indwelling Śiva.

Word by Word

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या-शब्दः; ब्रह्माणि इति पदस्य विशेषणम् (indeclinable numeral used adjectivally)

• ब्रह्माणि: Brahma-forms / brahmans
• ब्रह्माणि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन

• विन्यस्य: having placed
• विन्यस्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Gerundial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + अस् (धातु) / विन्यस् (धात्वादेश)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having placed/arranged’

• शिरः: the head
• शिरः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• पाद-अवसानकम्: ending at the feet
• पाद-अवसानकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + अवसानक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (pāda-avasāna: ending at the feet)

• मुण्डवत्: like a skull
• मुण्डवत्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुण्डवत् (अव्यय/तद्धितान्त)
• Form: उपमानार्थक-अव्यय (comparative adverb: like a skull)

• क्र-कलाभेदैः: by the divisions of (kra-)kalās
• क्र-कलाभेदैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्र (प्रातिपदिक) + कला (प्रातिपदिक) + भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (kalā-bheda: divisions/segments; with ‘kra’ as qualifier per tradition)

• प्रणवस्य: of the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• कलाः: parts/kalās
• कलाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक निपात (particle: also/even)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shaiva ritual-philosophical teaching as preserved in the Kailasa Samhita)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: praṇava (oṃ)

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches internal worship: by installing the Pañcabrahma aspects and the subtle parts of Oṁ throughout the body, the devotee realizes Śiva as the indwelling Lord (Pati) pervading all limbs, turning the body into a sacred field of meditation.

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

Nyāsa links external Linga-pūjā to inner Linga contemplation: Saguna forms (the five Brahmas) are ritually placed in the body, while Oṁ points to the subtler presence of Śiva, harmonizing form-based devotion with inward realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Pañcabrahma-nyāsa from head to feet along with pranava-kalā contemplation—mentally placing mantra-power in bodily locations and meditating on Śiva’s presence in every segment of the body.