Shloka 17

प्रणवार्थपद्धतिवर्णनम्

Methodical Explanation of the Meaning of Praṇava/Om

Devanagari script

निदानज्ञो यथा वैद्यो रोगस्य निवर्तकः । उपायैर्भेषजैस्तद्वल्लयभोगाधिकारकः

Transliteration

nidānajño yathā vaidyo rogasya nivartakaḥ | upāyairbheṣajaistadvallayabhogādhikārakaḥ

Translation

Just as a physician who knows the true diagnosis removes a disease by proper methods and medicines, so too the competent spiritual preceptor, through appropriate means, makes one fit to attain the Lord’s state—laya (absorption) and bhoga (divine enjoyment).

Word by Word

• निदान-ज्ञः: knower of causes (diagnostician)
• निदान-ज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निदान (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √ज्ञा क्त/ज्ञ)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (निदानज्ञ = निदानं जानाति इति); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानार्थक-अव्यय (as/just as)

• वैद्यः: a physician
• वैद्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• रोगस्य: of the disease
• रोगस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• निवर्तकः: remover
• निवर्तकः: Pratipādya (प्रतिपाद्य/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नि-√वृत् (धातु) + ण्वुल्/क (प्रातिपदिक-निर्माण)
• Form: कर्तृवाचक-प्रातिपदिक (agent noun); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उपायैः: by means
• उपायैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• भेषजैः: with medicines
• भेषजैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेषज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• तद्वत्: likewise
• तद्वत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्वत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तद् + वत् (similative indeclinable) ‘likewise’

• लय-भोग-अधिकारकः: one who grants/causes authority over dissolution and enjoyment
• लय-भोग-अधिकारकः: Pratipādya (प्रतिपाद्य/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लय (प्रातिपदिक) + भोग (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिकारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (लयभोगयोः अधिकारकः = लयस्य भोगस्य च अधिकारं करोति/ददाति); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that liberation is not accidental: like a skilled doctor, the realized guide applies the right upaya (means) to remove the soul’s bondage and establish it in Shiva—culminating in laya (absorption) and bhoga (divine fruition).

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

Linga-worship and Saguna Shiva devotion function as prescribed ‘remedies’—disciplines and supports that purify the pashu (individual soul) and loosen pasha (bondage), preparing the seeker for Shiva-realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It implies adopting an appropriate, guided regimen—such as japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namah Shivaya), Linga-puja with bhakti, and Shaiva disciplines—chosen according to one’s condition, like medicine suited to a disease.