Shloka 33

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

Devanagari script

शिवनाम नमःपूर्वं चतुर्थ्यां पंचतत्त्वकम् । स्थूलप्रणवरूपं हि शिवपंचाक्षरं द्विजाः

Transliteration

śivanāma namaḥpūrvaṃ caturthyāṃ paṃcatattvakam | sthūlapraṇavarūpaṃ hi śivapaṃcākṣaraṃ dvijāḥ

Translation

O twice-born ones, the five-syllabled mantra of Śiva is formed by placing “namaḥ” first and “śiva” as the fourth; it is constituted of the five tattvas and is indeed the gross (manifest) form of Praṇava (Oṁ).

Word by Word

• शिवनाम: Śiva’s name
• शिवनाम: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव-नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी): शिवस्य नाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नमःपूर्वम्: preceded by ‘namaḥ’
• नमःपूर्वम्: क्रियाविशेषण (manner)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नमः-पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास: नमः पूर्वं यस्य/यत्र; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial)

• चतुर्थ्याम्: in the fourth (case/ending)
• चतुर्थ्याम्: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्थी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरणे (locative)

• पञ्चतत्त्वकम्: consisting of five elements/parts
• पञ्चतत्त्वकम्: विशेषण (of śivanāma)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च-तत्त्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास: पञ्च तत्त्वानि यस्य; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying śivanāma)

• स्थूलप्रणवरूपम्: having the form of the gross praṇava
• स्थूलप्रणवरूपम्: विशेषण (of śivapaṃcākṣaram)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थूल-प्रणव-रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: स्थूलः प्रणवः तस्य रूपम्/प्रणवरूपम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: सम्बन्ध-निर्देशक (reason/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (causal/emphatic particle)

• शिवपञ्चाक्षरम्: the five-syllabled (mantra) of Śiva
• शिवपञ्चाक्षरम्: सम्बन्ध/विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव-पञ्च-अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: शिवस्य पञ्च अक्षराणि (पञ्चाक्षरम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• द्विजाः: O twice-born
• द्विजाः: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Om (Pranava)

FAQs

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

It declares the Pañcākṣara (Namaḥ Śivāya) as a complete, tattva-based mantra that embodies Śiva’s grace for liberation, presenting Oṁ in an accessible, worshipful form aligned with Śaiva Siddhānta devotion (pati-bhakti leading beyond pāśa).

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

By calling the mantra the “gross/manifest form” of Praṇava, the verse supports Saguna upāsanā—approaching the transcendent (Nirguṇa) through a concrete support: mantra-japa and Linga worship as the audible and visible means to realize Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular japa of “Namaḥ Śivāya” with reverence to Praṇava—ideally alongside Śiva pūjā/Liṅga-arcana—contemplating the five tattvas as purified and offered back to Śiva through the mantra.