Shloka 67

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

Devanagari script

हृत्पुण्डरीकं विरजं विशोकं विशदम्परम् । अष्टपत्रं केशराढ्यं कर्णिकोपरि शो भितम्

Transliteration

hṛtpuṇḍarīkaṃ virajaṃ viśokaṃ viśadamparam | aṣṭapatraṃ keśarāḍhyaṃ karṇikopari śo bhitam

Translation

He should contemplate the lotus within the heart—stainless, sorrowless, supremely pure—an eight-petalled lotus rich with filaments, made splendid by its central pericarp.

Word by Word

• हृत्पुण्डरीकम्: the heart-lotus
• हृत्पुण्डरीकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृत् + पुण्डरीक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘हृदः पुण्डरीकम्’ (हृदय-कमलम्)

• विरजम्: stainless
• विरजम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विरज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; ‘हृत्पुण्डरीकम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• विशोकम्: sorrowless
• विशोकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• विशदम्: clear/pure
• विशदम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• अष्टपत्रम्: eight-petalled
• अष्टपत्रम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्ट + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास: ‘अष्टौ पत्राणि यस्य’ (अष्टदलम्)

• केशराढ्यम्: rich with filaments
• केशराढ्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: केशर + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; ‘केशरैः आढ्यम्’ इति तृतीया-तत्पुरुष

• कर्णिकोपरी: upon the pericarp
• कर्णिकोपरी: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कर्णिका + उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb/postposition): ‘upon/above’; ‘कर्णिका’ इत्यस्य उपपदसम्बन्ध

• शोभितम्: adorned/beautiful
• शोभितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √शुभ्/शोभ् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; ‘हृत्पुण्डरीकम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse directs the seeker to meditate on the purified heart-lotus as the inner shrine where Pati (Shiva) is realized—free from mala (impurity) and śoka (sorrow)—a Shaiva Siddhanta emphasis on inner purification leading toward liberation.

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

It presents the heart-lotus as an internal altar: just as the Linga is worshipped externally with purity and focus, Saguna Shiva is contemplated inwardly in the luminous center (karṇikā), preparing the mind for deeper realization of Shiva beyond limitation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A dhyāna practice: visualize an eight-petalled lotus in the heart, keep it stainless and clear through disciplined purity, and sustain japa (such as the Panchakshara, Om Namaḥ Śivāya) as the mind rests in the lotus-center.