Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

जलवद्वर्णमाद्यन्तु दक्षिणे चोत्तरे तथा । मध्ये मकारं शुचिवदोंकारे मुनिसत्तम

Transliteration

jalavadvarṇamādyantu dakṣiṇe cottare tathā | madhye makāraṃ śucivadoṃkāre munisattama

Translation

O best of sages, place the first letter—shining like water—on the right and likewise on the left; place the letter “ma” in the middle, and thus contemplate the pure Oṅkāra.

Word by Word

• जलवत्: like water
• जलवत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: जलवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक (indeclinable in -वत् used adverbially: ‘like water’)

• वर्णम्: the letter/syllable
• वर्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आद्यम्: the first
• आद्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha-bodhaka (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• दक्षिणे: on the right (side)
• दक्षिणे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• उत्तरे: on the left/northern (side)
• उत्तरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थक (so/likewise)

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• मकारम्: the letter ‘m’
• मकारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• शुचिवत्: like (something) pure
• शुचिवत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शुचिवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक (indeclinable in -वत् used adverbially: ‘like purity/clean’)

• ओङ्कारे: in the Oṃkāra
• ओङ्कारे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ओङ्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• मुनिसत्तम: O best of sages
• मुनिसत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मुनिषु सत्तमः)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: (Visualization of Oṅkāra with placements of akāra/ukāra and makāra)

Type: gayatri

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches an inner, yogic arrangement of sacred syllables around Oṅkāra, emphasizing purity of consciousness and mantra-nyāsa as a Shaiva means to approach Pati (Shiva) and loosen pāśa (bondage).

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

By prescribing contemplative placement of syllables, it supports subtle (mānasa) worship—treating Oṅkāra and mantra as the living presence of Saguna Shiva, akin to installing the Lord in the heart as one would worship the Liṅga externally.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A form of mantra-nyāsa/dhyāna: mentally placing syllables to the right, left, and center while meditating on the pure Oṅkāra—useful as a preparatory practice before japa of the Panchākṣarī and Shiva Purana-style worship.