Shloka 54

Kāla-vañcana (Overcoming/Outwitting Time) and the Pañcabhūta Basis of the Body

Devanagari script

एतत्ते परमेशानि शब्दब्रह्मस्वरूपकम् । नवधा सर्वमाख्यातं किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि

Transliteration

etatte parameśāni śabdabrahmasvarūpakam | navadhā sarvamākhyātaṃ kiṃ bhūyaḥ śrotumicchasi

Translation

O Supreme Goddess, Parameśānī, this teaching—whose very nature is Śabda‑Brahman—has been fully explained to you in nine divisions. What more do you wish to hear?

Word by Word

• etat: this (teaching/thing)
• etat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nominative/Accusative), एकवचन

• te: of/for you
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• parameśāni: O Parameśānī (Goddess)
• parameśāni: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parameśānī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• śabda-brahma-svarūpakam: having the nature of sound-Brahman
• śabda-brahma-svarūpakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śabda (प्रातिपदिक) + brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + svarūpaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (śabdabrahmaṇaḥ svarūpakam = having the nature of sound-Brahman)

• navadhā: in nine ways
• navadhā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: navadhā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• sarvam: all (of it)
• sarvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ākhyātam: has been explained/told
• ākhyātam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√khyā (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगार्थक (passive sense)

• kim: what
• kim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक (interrogative)

• bhūyaḥ: further/again
• bhūyaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhūyaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, काल/पुनरावृत्तिवाचक (again/further)

• śrotum: to hear
• śrotum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु) + tumun (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), श्रवणक्रियायाः प्रयोजनम् (purpose)

• icchasi: you wish/desire
• icchasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √iṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: A colophon-like closure: Śiva states the śabda-brahman teaching has been given in nine divisions (navadhā). Not tied to a specific shrine.

Significance: Encourages śravaṇa (hearing) and systematic learning as devotional practice; frames doctrine as a complete upadeśa from Śiva to Devī.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Parvati

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that Shiva’s liberating instruction is complete and structured (ninefold) and that the path is transmitted through Śabda—sacred sound—guiding the soul (paśu) toward Shiva (Pati) by removing bondage (pāśa).

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

Śabda-Brahman points to approaching Shiva through mantra and revealed teaching, which supports Saguna worship (Linga, name and form) as an accessible doorway, while ultimately directing the seeker to the highest truth Shiva signifies.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Focused śravaṇa (listening to scripture), mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and contemplative repetition of Shiva’s teachings as a disciplined practice leading to clarity and devotion.