Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

सर्वशास्त्रार्थ तत्त्वज्ञं वेदान्तज्ञानपारगम् । आचार्य्यमुपसंगम्य यतिं मतिमतां वरम्

Transliteration

sarvaśāstrārtha tattvajñaṃ vedāntajñānapāragam | ācāryyamupasaṃgamya yatiṃ matimatāṃ varam

Translation

They approached the venerable Teacher—an ascetic yati, foremost among the wise—who knew the true purport of all the śāstras and had crossed to the far shore of Vedāntic knowledge, seeking his guidance.

Word by Word

• सर्व-शास्त्र-अर्थ: meaning of all scriptures
• सर्व-शास्त्र-अर्थ: विशेष्य-निर्देशक (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषां शास्त्राणाम् अर्थः)

• तत्त्व-ज्ञम्: knower of reality
• तत्त्व-ज्ञम्: कर्म (द्वितीया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तत्त्वस्य ज्ञः)

• वेदान्त-ज्ञान-पारगम्: one who has mastered Vedānta-knowledge
• वेदान्त-ज्ञान-पारगम्: कर्म (द्वितीया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेदान्त (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + पारग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वेदान्तज्ञानस्य पारगः)

• आचार्यम्: the teacher
• आचार्यम्: कर्म (द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उपसंगम्य: having approached
• उपसंगम्य: क्रियाविशेषण (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-सम्-गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); ‘having approached’

• यतिम्: the ascetic
• यतिम्: कर्म (द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मतिमताम्: of the wise
• मतिमताम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मतिमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘of the intelligent/wise’

• वरम्: excellent, best
• वरम्: कर्म (द्वितीया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (यतिम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Acharya
• Yati

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that true Shaiva realization arises through approaching a qualified ācārya who knows tattva (the reality of Pati, paśu, and pāśa) and can lead the seeker from scriptural learning to direct liberating knowledge.

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

In the Shiva Purana, disciplined worship of Saguna Shiva (such as Liṅga-upāsanā) is ideally received and refined under a guru’s instruction, so devotion matures into tattva-jñāna—seeing Shiva as the supreme Pati beyond bondage.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is guru-upāsanā: humbly approaching a realized teacher for mantra-dīkṣā and guidance in steady japa and meditation—often centered on Shaiva mantra practice—so knowledge becomes transformative rather than merely intellectual.