Shloka 13

प्रणवमहिमा — The Greatness of the Praṇava (Om) as Śiva

Devanagari script

वर्णपंचकरूपोयमेवं प्रणव उद्धृतः । त्रिमात्रबिन्दुनादात्मा मुक्तिदो जपतां सदा

Transliteration

varṇapaṃcakarūpoyamevaṃ praṇava uddhṛtaḥ | trimātrabindunādātmā muktido japatāṃ sadā

Translation

Thus is the Praṇava (Oṁ) proclaimed: it is of the form of the five letters, and its essence is the three mātrās together with bindu and nāda. To those who ever repeat it in japa, it bestows liberation (mokṣa).

Word by Word

• वर्णपञ्चकरूपः: having the form of five letters
• वर्णपञ्चकरूपः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्ण + पञ्चक + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वर्णपञ्चकस्य रूपः)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• प्रणवः: the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• उद्धृतः: is extracted/derived
• उद्धृतः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-√हृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे विधेय (predicate)

• त्रिमात्रबिन्दुनादात्मा: whose essence is the three mātrās, the bindu and the nāda
• त्रिमात्रबिन्दुनादात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + मात्रा + बिन्दु + नाद + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (त्रयः मात्राः, बिन्दुः, नादः—एतेषां आत्मा/स्वरूपः)

• मुक्तिदः: giver of liberation
• मुक्तिदः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्ति + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (मुक्तिं ददाति इति)

• जपताम्: of those who chant
• जपताम्: Sampradāna/Adhikāra (सम्प्रदान/अधिकार)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √जप् (धातु) + शतृ/शानच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle used substantively); षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; ‘जपन्ति ये’

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Oṃkāreśvara

Sthala Purana: The liṅga is identified with Oṃkāra; worship of Śiva as the very praṇava grants siddhi and mokṣa—this verse supplies the doctrinal basis for seeing Oṃ as Śiva’s body (śabda-tanu).

Significance: Japa and contemplation of Oṃ as Śiva’s essence is held to purify mala and bestow liberation; the tīrtha emphasizes praṇava-upāsanā and liṅga-darśana.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: ॐ (Praṇava) — trimātrā-bindu-nādātmā

Type: gayatri

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Lalitā

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents Oṁ as the liberating seed-sound whose subtle structure (A-U-M with bindu and nāda) leads the seeker toward Shiva-realization and moksha through steady japa.

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

In Shaiva Siddhanta, the Praṇava is Shiva’s sacred sonic form; japa purifies the pashu (individual soul) and prepares devotion and meditation that culminate in Linga-worship and inner union with Pati (Shiva).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular mantra-japa of Oṁ (Praṇava), done with attention to its three mātrās and the subtle bindu-nāda resonance, as a daily discipline aimed at purification and liberation.