Shloka 39

नरकनामनिर्णयः

Catalogue of Narakas and Karmic Causes

Devanagari script

ज्ञानात्मकमिदं विश्वं सकलं सचराचरम् । परविज्ञानतः किंचिद्विद्यते न परं मुने

Transliteration

jñānātmakamidaṃ viśvaṃ sakalaṃ sacarācaram | paravijñānataḥ kiṃcidvidyate na paraṃ mune

Translation

This entire universe—everything moving and unmoving—is of the very nature of consciousness (knowledge). O sage, beyond the Supreme Knowledge, nothing whatsoever exists as higher.

Word by Word

• ज्ञानात्मकम्: of the nature of knowledge
• ज्ञानात्मकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान-आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक; ज्ञान + आत्मक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); विशेषण (adjective) qualifying ‘विश्वम्’

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally

• विश्वम्: universe
• विश्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• सकलम्: entire
• सकलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); विशेषण of ‘विश्वम्’

• सचराचरम्: with the moving and the unmoving
• सचराचरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चर-अचर (प्रातिपदिक; चर + अचर)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); द्वन्द्वसमास (itaretara-dvandva) used adjectivally for ‘विश्वम्’

• परविज्ञानतः: from higher knowledge / by supreme realization
• परविज्ञानतः: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पर-विज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक; पर + विज्ञान) + तस् (तद्धित/अव्यय)
• Form: Ablatival adverb (तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय): ‘from/according to’

• किञ्चित्: anything (at all)
• किञ्चित्: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किञ्चित् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); indefinite pronoun

• विद्यते: exists
• विद्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); आत्मनेपद; ‘exists/is found’

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• परम्: higher / beyond
• परम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective with ‘किञ्चित्’

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

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 declares that all creation is grounded in consciousness, and that the highest attainment is realizing the Supreme Knowledge (Parajñāna/Paravijñāna), identified with Shiva as the ultimate reality beyond which nothing surpasses.

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

Linga worship begins with Saguna devotion (form and symbol) and culminates in recognizing the Linga’s inner meaning: Shiva as pure consciousness. The verse points to that culmination—realization of the supreme, formless awareness indicated by the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the witnessing consciousness while repeating the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), using Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and/or Rudrāksha as aids to steadiness and remembrance, aiming at inner realization rather than mere external ritual.