Shloka 43

Śiva-Pūjākramaḥ — The Procedural Order of Shiva Worship

Pañcāvaraṇa & Upacāras

Devanagari script

भवन्तोऽपि विदित्वैवम्प्रणवार्थम्महेश्वरम् । वेदगुह्यं च सर्वस्वन्तार कम्ब्रह्म मुक्तिदम्

Transliteration

bhavanto'pi viditvaivampraṇavārthammaheśvaram | vedaguhyaṃ ca sarvasvantāra kambrahma muktidam

Translation

You too, having thus understood Maheśvara as the very meaning of Praṇava (Oṁ)—the secret essence of the Vedas, the all-in-all—know Him as that Tāraka Brahman who ferries beings across and bestows liberation.

Word by Word

• भवन्तः: you (honored ones)
• भवन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थ (also/even)

• विदित्वा: having known
• विदित्वा: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकाल (prior action)

• एवम्: thus/in this manner
• एवम्: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• प्रणव-अर्थम्: the meaning of the Praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणव-अर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): प्रणवस्य अर्थः

• महेश्वरम्: Maheśvara (Śiva)
• महेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• वेद-गुह्यम्: the Vedas' secret (esoteric)
• वेद-गुह्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: वेदानां गुह्यम् (secret of the Vedas)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सर्वस्वम्: the all-in-all; the entirety
• सर्वस्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वस्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• तारकम्: saving; that which ferries across
• तारकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ब्रह्म: Brahman/Absolute
• ब्रह्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• मुक्ति-दम्: giver of liberation
• मुक्ति-दम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुष: मुक्तिं ददाति इति (giver of liberation)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames Śiva as Praṇava-artha (the meaning of Oṃ) and as Tāraka Brahman (the saving Absolute), aligning pilgrimage/darśana with jñāna that culminates in mokṣa.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: oṃ (praṇava) — implied as the subject; not fully quoted as a mantra here.

Type: gayatri

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It identifies Śiva (Maheśvara) as the inner meaning of Oṁ, the hidden essence of the Vedas, and as Tāraka Brahman—the saving Reality that carries the soul beyond bondage to mokṣa.

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

Though pointing to Śiva as the nirguṇa Brahman (Tāraka), it supports saguna worship as a doorway: by meditating on Oṁ and Śiva’s presence (often through Liṅga-upāsanā), the devotee realizes the same supreme Pati as the essence of all.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Japa and contemplation of Praṇava (Oṁ) with Śiva-bhāva—treating Oṁ as Śiva’s very form and meaning—aimed at inner purification and liberation.