Shloka 114

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

Devanagari script

ईशानस्य परस्यैव प्रथमावरणं ततः । ध्यानधर्मस्य च स्थानं पंचमं मंडपं ततः

Transliteration

īśānasya parasyaiva prathamāvaraṇaṃ tataḥ | dhyānadharmasya ca sthānaṃ paṃcamaṃ maṃḍapaṃ tataḥ

Translation

Thereafter is the first enclosure belonging to the Supreme Īśāna. Following that is the seat of dhyāna-dharma (the discipline of meditation); thereafter comes the fifth maṇḍapa (sacred pavilion).

Word by Word

• ईशानस्य: of Īśāna
• ईशानस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; Genitive singular

• परस्य: of the supreme
• परस्य: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; Genitive singular (qualifying īśānasya)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphatic)

• प्रथम-आवरणम्: the first enclosure
• प्रथम-आवरणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक) + आवरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; Nominative/Accusative singular (contextual)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kāla/Anukrama (काल/अनुक्रम/Sequence marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• ध्यान-धर्मस्य: of the dharma of meditation / of meditation-practice
• ध्यान-धर्मस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; Genitive singular (dhyāna-sambandhī dharmaḥ)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• स्थानम्: place/seat
• स्थानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; Nominative/Accusative singular

• पञ्चमम्: fifth
• पञ्चमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; Ordinal adjective agreeing with maṇḍapam

• मण्डपम्: pavilion/mandapa
• मण्डपम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; Nominative/Accusative singular

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kāla/Anukrama (काल/अनुक्रम/Sequence marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana’s description of Shiva-worship to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: The first enclosure is assigned to the supreme Īśāna—Śiva’s transcendent face—followed by a dedicated ‘seat of dhyāna-dharma,’ indicating that entry into the innermost sanctity is governed by meditative discipline rather than mere physical proximity.

Significance: Frames Kāśī pilgrimage as a yoga of attention: the ‘dhyāna-dharma’ station sacralizes inner stillness as the proper gateway to Viśveśvara’s grace.

Mantra Metadata

Type: gayatri

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Ishana
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It maps sacred space as an inner journey: approaching the Supreme Īśāna (Pati) through successive enclosures culminates in dhyāna-dharma, indicating that true access to Shiva is finalized by steady meditation and disciplined inner worship.

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

The verse supports temple/Linga worship through ordered āvaraṇas and maṇḍapas (saguna approach), while pointing to dhyāna-dharma as the inward consummation—moving from external ritual proximity to internal absorption in Shiva’s presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform outer worship in proper sequence (approaching the āvaraṇa/maṇḍapa), then sit in the designated place for meditation and practice dhyāna on Shiva—often supported in Shaiva practice by japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and calm, one-pointed awareness.