Shloka 18

प्रणवार्थपद्धतिवर्णनम्

Methodical Explanation of the Meaning of Praṇava/Om

Devanagari script

संसारस्येश्वरो नित्यं स्थूलस्य विनिवर्तकः । संसार वैद्य इत्युक्तस्सर्वतत्त्वार्थवेदिभिः

Transliteration

saṃsārasyeśvaro nityaṃ sthūlasya vinivartakaḥ | saṃsāra vaidya ityuktassarvatattvārthavedibhiḥ

Translation

He is eternally the Lord of saṃsāra, the One who turns the soul back from gross outwardness. Therefore, those who know the meaning of all tattvas call Him the “physician of saṃsāra.”

Word by Word

• संसारस्य: of saṃsāra
• संसारस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• ईश्वरः: the Lord
• ईश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावे/क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-एकवचन-प्रयोगः; कालवाचक-अव्ययार्थः ‘सदा’

• स्थूलस्य: of the gross (state)
• स्थूलस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; ‘स्थूल-रूपस्य’

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

• संसार-वैद्यः: physician of saṃsāra
• संसार-वैद्यः: Pratipādya (प्रतिपाद्य/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसार (प्रातिपदिक) + वैद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (संसारस्य वैद्यः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक-निपात

• उक्तः: is said/called
• उक्तः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मणि ‘कथितः’

• सर्व-तत्त्व-अर्थ-वेदिभिः: by knowers of the meanings of all principles
• सर्व-तत्त्व-अर्थ-वेदिभिः: Kartr-karana (कर्तृ-करण/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + वेदिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सर्वतत्त्वार्थवेदिन् = सर्वेषां तत्त्वानां अर्थं वेत्ति); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s supreme role as Pati in the Kailasa Samhita discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse presents Shiva as Pati—the supreme Lord who cures the disease of saṃsāra by turning the bound soul away from gross, outward identification and toward liberating knowledge and grace.

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

By approaching Shiva in a tangible form—especially through Linga worship—the devotee is guided from the gross (sthūla) orientation to inner withdrawal and realization, making Saguna worship a therapeutic path leading toward liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt a daily practice of Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with mindful pratyāhāra (withdrawal from sense-driven grossness); Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and Rudrākṣa may be used as Shaiva disciplines supporting this inward turning.