Shloka 55

प्रणवार्थपद्धतिवर्णनम्

Methodical Explanation of the Meaning of Praṇava/Om

Devanagari script

मया वश्श्रावितं ह्येतद्गुह्याद्गुह्यतरम्परम् । ज्ञात्वा शिवप्रियान्भक्त्या भवतो गिरिशप्रियम्

Transliteration

mayā vaśśrāvitaṃ hyetadguhyādguhyataramparam | jñātvā śivapriyānbhaktyā bhavato giriśapriyam

Translation

I have indeed caused you to hear this supreme teaching—more secret than what is called secret. Knowing you to be devoted and dear to Śiva, I have spoken it with bhakti, for you too are beloved of Girīśa (Śiva), the Lord of the mountains.

Word by Word

• मया: by me
• मया: करण (Karaṇa/Agent-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्रावितम्: caused to be heard; recited
• श्रावितम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) → श्रावित (कृदन्त)
• Form: णिच्-प्रेरणार्थक (causative) भूतकृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'caused to be heard/recited'

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (indeed/for)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गुह्यात्: than (what is) secret
• गुह्यात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (or पुँलिङ्ग as adj.), पञ्चमी विभक्ति (ablative), एकवचन; तुलनाबिन्दु (than secret)

• गुह्यतरम्: more secret
• गुह्यतरम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तुलनात्मक (comparative) -तर, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'supreme/ultimate'

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: पूर्वकाल (Pūrvakāla/Preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), 'having known'

• शिव-प्रियान्: those dear to Śiva
• शिव-प्रियान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ('dear to Śiva'); प्रिय-शब्दः पुँलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (accusative), बहुवचन

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: करण (Karaṇa/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भवतः: of you
• भवतः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-प्राय (honorific pronoun), पुँलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (genitive), एकवचन

• गिरिश-प्रियम्: dear to Girīśa (Śiva)
• गिरिश-प्रियम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गिरिश (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ('dear to Girīśa'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (एतत्/परम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it foregrounds rahasya (guhyāt-guhyatara) and adhikāra—Śiva grants access to secret doctrine to those dear to Him (śiva-priya).

Significance: Frames śravaṇa of esoteric Śaiva teaching as a grace-act; the ‘beloved of Girīśa’ motif aligns with the Siddhānta view that anugraha loosens pāśa and matures the paśu toward liberation.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that the highest (most “secret”) spiritual knowledge is not gained merely by intellect, but is revealed by Śiva’s grace to those who are truly Śiva-priya—devoted and aligned with the Lord—showing bhakti as a primary qualification for receiving liberating instruction.

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

By emphasizing devotion and Śiva’s personal favor (Girīśa-priya), the verse supports Saguna Śiva worship—approaching Śiva as a gracious Lord who discloses profound truths to devotees, which naturally includes Linga-upāsanā as the central Shaiva form of worship in the Purāṇa.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is devotional listening (śravaṇa) and faithful retention of Śiva’s teachings; it aligns with daily Shiva-bhakti such as japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and reverent contemplation of the “secret” instruction received from the Lord or guru.