Shloka 66

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

Devanagari script

शमादिधर्मनिरतो वेदान्तज्ञानपारगः । अत्राधिकारी स प्रोक्तो यतिर्विगतमत्सरः

Transliteration

śamādidharmanirato vedāntajñānapāragaḥ | atrādhikārī sa prokto yatirvigatamatsaraḥ

Translation

He who is devoted to the virtues beginning with inner calm, who has reached the far shore of Vedānta-knowledge, and who is a yati free from envy—such a one is declared here to be the qualified aspirant (adhikārī).

Word by Word

• शमादिधर्मनिरतः: devoted to virtues like tranquility
• शमादिधर्मनिरतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शम + आदि + धर्म + निरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative); समास: शमादयः धर्माः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + तेषु निरतः (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष-भाव)

• वेदान्तज्ञानपारगः: one who has mastered Vedānta-knowledge
• वेदान्तज्ञानपारगः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेदान्त + ज्ञान + पारग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative); समास: वेदान्तस्य ज्ञानम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + तस्य पारगः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• अत्र: here/in this matter
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• अधिकारी: qualified person
• अधिकारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिकारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative)

• प्रोक्तः: is said/declared
• प्रोक्तः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative); कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense)

• यतिः: ascetic
• यतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative)

• विगतमत्सरः: free from envy
• विगतमत्सरः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विगत + मत्सर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative); उपपद-तत्पुरुष (vigataḥ matsaraḥ yasya / vigata-matsaraḥ)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines adhikāra (spiritual eligibility): the seeker must cultivate inner calm and related virtues, attain clear Vedāntic discernment, and be free of envy—only then does Shiva’s liberating knowledge bear fruit, aligning the pashu toward Pati through purity and maturity.

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

It implies that external worship of the Liṅga becomes truly transformative when supported by inner qualifications—śama, disciplined conduct, and non-envy—so Saguna Shiva worship ripens into steady knowledge and devotion that lead toward Shiva-realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse chiefly points to sādhana of inner discipline—śama and allied virtues—along with contemplative inquiry into Vedānta; in Shaiva practice this is naturally supported by daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), meditation on Shiva, and a life of non-envy and restraint.