Shloka 18

गोत्र-प्रवर-प्रश्नः तथा तिथ्यादि-कीर्तनं

Gotra–Pravara Inquiry and Proclamation of Auspicious Time

Devanagari script

अरूपोऽयं परब्रह्म निर्गुणः प्रकृतेः परः । निराकारो निर्विकारो मायाधीशः परात्परः

Transliteration

arūpo'yaṃ parabrahma nirguṇaḥ prakṛteḥ paraḥ | nirākāro nirvikāro māyādhīśaḥ parātparaḥ

Translation

He is the formless Supreme Brahman, nirguṇa—beyond the guṇas and beyond Prakṛti. Without shape and without change, He is the Lord of Māyā, the Transcendent beyond even the highest.

Word by Word

• अरूपः: formless
• अरूपः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• अयम्: this (one)
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• परब्रह्म: the Supreme Brahman
• परब्रह्म: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर + ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (परं ब्रह्म)

• निर्गुणः: without qualities (guṇas)
• निर्गुणः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• प्रकृतेः: of Prakṛti (nature)
• प्रकृतेः: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• परः: beyond
• परः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• निराकारः: without shape
• निराकारः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• निर्विकारः: unchanging
• निर्विकारः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः + विकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• मायाधीशः: lord of Māyā
• मायाधीशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया + अधीश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मायायाः अधीशः)

• परात्परः: higher than the highest
• परात्परः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परात् + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुष (परात् परः = परस्यापि परः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s supreme nature within the Rudra Saṃhitā discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes Shiva as Pati—the supreme, formless Reality beyond guṇas and Prakṛti—showing that liberation comes from realizing Him as the unchanging Lord who transcends and governs Māyā.

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

Though Shiva is declared nirākāra (formless), the Śiva-liṅga functions as a sacred support for devotion and meditation, enabling devotees to approach the transcendental (nirguṇa) Lord through a consecrated, worshipful (saguṇa) symbol.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as nirguṇa and nirvikāra while japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”); this aligns the mind beyond guṇas toward the Lord who is Māyādhīśa.