Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

देवो गुणत्रयातीतः सर्वज्ञः सर्वकृत्प्रभुः । ओमित्येकाक्षरे मंत्रे स्थितोहं सर्वगश्शिवः

Transliteration

devo guṇatrayātītaḥ sarvajñaḥ sarvakṛtprabhuḥ | omityekākṣare maṃtre sthitohaṃ sarvagaśśivaḥ

Translation

I am the Divine Lord who transcends the three guṇas, all-knowing and the sovereign doer of all. Abiding in the one-syllable mantra “Om”, I am Śiva—present everywhere and pervading all.

Word by Word

• देवः: the God
• देवः: Karta (कर्ता; subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• गुणत्रयातीतः: beyond the three qualities
• गुणत्रयातीतः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण + त्रय + अतीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पञ्चमी-तत्पुरुष (गुणत्रयात् अतीतः = beyond the three guṇas)

• सर्वज्ञः: all-knowing
• सर्वज्ञः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सर्वं जानाति)

• सर्वकृत्: maker of all
• सर्वकृत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + कृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक ‘कृत्’ (doer/maker) with सर्व-; कर्मधारय

• प्रभुः: the Lord
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ओम्: Oṃ
• ओम्: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य; name/quoted form)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ओम् (अव्यय/प्रणव)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रणव-शब्द (sacred syllable)

• इति: thus
• इति: Quotation marker (इति-निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण-समाप्त्यर्थक (quotative particle)

• एकाक्षरे: in the single-syllabled
• एकाक्षरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; द्विगु (एकम् अक्षरम्)

• मन्त्रे: in the mantra
• मन्त्रे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• स्थितः: abiding, situated
• स्थितः: Karta (कर्ता; predicate of अहम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle, active sense), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘situated/abiding’

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सर्वगः: all-pervading
• सर्वगः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सर्वत्र गच्छति/व्याप्नोति)

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: ॐ इति एकाक्षरः मन्त्रः

Type: gayatri

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Om

FAQs

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

The verse declares Śiva as Pati—the Supreme Lord—who is beyond the three guṇas and yet the inner ruler of all. Spiritually, it directs the seeker from guṇa-bound experience to the transcendental Śiva realized through mantra and grace, culminating in liberation (moksha).

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

Though Śiva is proclaimed guṇātīta (nirguṇa), He is also accessible through a concrete upāya (means): mantra. In Shaiva Siddhanta, the Linga and saguna forms serve as compassionate supports for worship, leading the devotee to recognize the same all-pervading Śiva indicated here as abiding in “Om”.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Japa and dhyāna on the one-syllable mantra “Om” (praṇava) is implied—contemplating Śiva as all-pervading and beyond the guṇas. Practically, it can be integrated with daily Shiva worship (pūjā), and mantra-japa as part of Shiva Purana rituals for Mahashivratri.