Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

प्रवृत्तानां च मिश्राणां स्थूलप्रणवमिष्यते । क्रियातपोजपैर्युक्तास्त्रिविधाः शिवयोगिनः

Transliteration

pravṛttānāṃ ca miśrāṇāṃ sthūlapraṇavamiṣyate | kriyātapojapairyuktāstrividhāḥ śivayoginaḥ

Translation

For those engaged in outward activity and for those of mixed discipline, the “gross” form of the Praṇava (Oṃ) is prescribed. Śiva‑yogins are of three kinds: those devoted to ritual action, those devoted to austerity, and those devoted to mantra‑repetition (japa).

Word by Word

• प्रवृत्तानाम्: of the active/engaged (people)
• प्रवृत्तानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रवृत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: √वृत् (धातु) + प्र- उपसर्ग, क्त (PPP) used as adjective; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• मिश्राणाम्: of the mixed (type)
• मिश्राणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मिश्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘mixed’

• स्थूल-प्रणवम्: the gross praṇava
• स्थूल-प्रणवम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थूल-प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (स्थूलः प्रणवः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; subject of इष्यते

• इष्यते: is accepted/considered
• इष्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग sense ‘is considered/accepted’

• क्रिया-तपः-जपैः: with ritual action, austerity, and recitation
• क्रिया-तपः-जपैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया + तपस् + जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (क्रिया च तपश्च जपश्च); तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• युक्ताः: endowed/connected
• युक्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: √युज् (धातु) क्त (PPP); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; predicate adjective

• त्रिविधाः: threefold
• त्रिविधाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि-विद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (त्रयः विधाः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; qualifying शिवयोगिनः

• शिव-योगिनः: Śiva-yogins
• शिव-योगिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव-योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (शिवस्य योगी/शिवयोगी); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Vidyeśvarasaṃhitā teaching to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: Oṃ (sthūla-praṇava: audible/uttered praṇava)

Type: panchakshara

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Om (Praṇava)

FAQs

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

It classifies practitioners by temperament and practice, teaching that Śiva’s grace is approached through appropriate means—especially the accessible, audible Praṇava for active or mixed-path seekers, and through kriyā, tapas, or japa as structured disciplines.

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

The ‘gross’ Praṇava points to a manifest, practice-oriented approach—supporting Saguna devotion where sound (Oṃ), ritual observance, and disciplined worship (often centered on the Liṅga) become concrete supports for inner realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Chanting the audible Praṇava (Oṃ) with steadiness, and adopting one primary discipline—kriyā (regulated worship), tapas (austerity), or japa (mantra repetition such as Pañcākṣarī)—according to one’s capacity.