Shloka 107

Praṇava-Māhātmya and the Twofold Mantra (Sūkṣma–Sthūla) in Śaiva Sādhanā

Devanagari script

कोपमोहौ रौद्र चक्रं भ्रमणं चैश्वरं विदुः । शिवचक्रं ज्ञानमोहौ पंचचक्रं विदुर्बुधाः

Transliteration

kopamohau raudra cakraṃ bhramaṇaṃ caiśvaraṃ viduḥ | śivacakraṃ jñānamohau paṃcacakraṃ vidurbudhāḥ

Translation

The wise know anger and delusion to be the ‘Raudra wheel’; restless wandering to be the ‘Īśvara wheel’; and knowledge together with delusion to be the ‘Śiva wheel’. Thus, the learned declare these as the five wheels (pañca-cakras).

Word by Word

• कोपमोहौ: anger and delusion
• कोपमोहौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोप (प्रातिपदिक) + मोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व (कोप + मोह), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन; Masculine, Nom/Acc Dual

• रौद्रम्: Raudra / fierce
• रौद्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रौद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; agreeing with चक्रम्; Neuter, Nom/Acc Singular

• चक्रम्: wheel
• चक्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; Neuter, Nom/Acc Singular

• भ्रमणम्: wandering / rotation
• भ्रमणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु) + ल्युट् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्युट्-प्रत्यय कृदन्त (भाववाचक), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; verbal noun ‘wandering/rotation’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• ऐश्वरम्: lordly / of Īśvara
• ऐश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऐश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; agreeing with (चक्रम्) understood; Neuter, Nom/Acc Singular

• विदुः: they know
• विदुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; Present, 3rd person plural

• शिवचक्रम्: Śiva’s wheel
• शिवचक्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य चक्रम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; Neuter, Nom/Acc Singular

• ज्ञानमोहौ: knowledge and delusion
• ज्ञानमोहौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + मोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व (ज्ञान + मोह), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन; Masculine, Nom/Acc Dual

• पञ्चचक्रम्: the fivefold wheel
• पञ्चचक्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; Neuter, Nom/Acc Singular

• विदुः: they know
• विदुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; Present, 3rd person plural

• बुधाः: the wise (people)
• बुधाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Purana teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya, inferred from Purana dialogue style)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Mapping of affective/gnostic states (kopa, moha, bhramaṇa, jñāna-moha) onto higher wheels culminating in Śiva-cakra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra
• Ishvara

FAQs

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

It maps common inner bondages—anger, delusion, and restless wandering—as recurring ‘wheels’ that keep the soul (paśu) moving within pasha (bondage). In Shaiva Siddhanta, recognizing these cycles is the first step toward Shiva’s grace (anugraha) and liberation.

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

Linga-worship and Saguna Shiva-upasana stabilize the mind and convert raudra tendencies (anger) into disciplined devotion. By centering awareness on Shiva as Īśvara, the devotee weakens moha and bhramaṇa, allowing jñāna to mature into Shiva-oriented realization rather than pride or confusion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Mantra-japa (especially Shiva mantra such as Om Namah Shivaya), steady dhyana on the Linga, and daily self-restraint (yama-niyama) are implied remedies—calming kopa, clearing moha, and ending mental bhramaṇa through one-pointed devotion and insight.