Shloka 25

Devanagari script

तर्जन्या पिहितौ कर्णौ पीडयित्वा मुहूर्त्तकम् । तस्मात्संश्रूयते शब्दस्तुदन्वह्निसमुद्भवः

Transliteration

tarjanyā pihitau karṇau pīḍayitvā muhūrttakam | tasmātsaṃśrūyate śabdastudanvahnisamudbhavaḥ

Translation

Closing both ears with the index fingers and pressing them for a short while, one then distinctly hears a sound—like a piercing tone—arising as though from fire. This is taught as an inner yogic sign, drawing the mind inward toward Śiva.

Word by Word

• तर्जन्या: with the index finger
• तर्जन्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तर्जनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/3rd), एकवचन

• पिहितौ: closed
• पिहितौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिहित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √धा/√धा? ‘पि-धा’ = पिधा ‘to close’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) — ‘closed’

• कर्णौ: (both) ears
• कर्णौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd), द्विवचन

• पीडयित्वा: having pressed
• पीडयित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पीड् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having pressed’

• मुहूर्त्तकम्: for a short while
• मुहूर्त्तकम्: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुहूर्त्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd) / अव्ययीभाववत् कालपरिमाण-प्रयोगः, एकवचन

• तस्मात्: therefrom/therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात् इति अव्ययीभूतः पञ्चमी-रूपप्रयोगः; हेतौ/तस्मादर्थे — ‘therefrom/therefore’

• सं-श्रूयते: is heard
• सं-श्रूयते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्गः सं-; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः — ‘is heard’

• शब्दः: a sound
• शब्दः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/1st), एकवचन

• तुदन्: piercing
• तुदन्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुद् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘piercing/striking’

• वह्नि-समुद्भवः: arising from fire
• वह्नि-समुद्भवः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + समुद्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वह्नेः समुद्भवः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Naṭarāja

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It describes a pratyāhāra-style yogic method where the senses withdraw and an inner “sound” (nāda) becomes perceptible—an indicator that the mind is turning inward toward Śiva, the Pati (Lord) who liberates the bound soul (paśu) from bondage (pāśa).

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

While external worship of the Liṅga is a Saguna support, this verse points to internal worship—stilling the senses so awareness can rest in Śiva within. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, outer pūjā and inner yoga complement each other as means of grace and purification.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A brief inner-listening meditation: sit steadily, close the ears with the index fingers, press gently for a short time, and observe the subtle inner sound (nāda) to collect the mind. This is a contemplative aid rather than a public ritual like bhasma or rudrākṣa, though it can be paired with japa (e.g., “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”).