Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

मनोरमे शुचौ देशे नियतः शुद्धमानसः । पंचाक्षरस्य मंत्रस्य सहस्रं द्वादशं जपेत्

Transliteration

manorame śucau deśe niyataḥ śuddhamānasaḥ | paṃcākṣarasya maṃtrasya sahasraṃ dvādaśaṃ japet

Translation

In a delightful and pure place, disciplined and with a purified mind, one should repeat the Pañcākṣara mantra—twelve thousand times.

Word by Word

• मनोरमे: pleasant
• मनोरमे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनोरम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; विशेषण (agreeing with देशे)

• शुचौ: pure
• शुचौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (agreeing with देशे)

• देशे: in a place
• देशे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नियतः: disciplined
• नियतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि-यत (धातु)
• Form: कृत्-प्रत्यय: क्त (past participle used adjectivally), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘disciplined/controlled’

• शुद्धमानसः: pure-minded
• शुद्धमानसः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध-मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—शुद्धं मानसं यस्य (pure-minded) कर्मधारय/बहुव्रीहि-प्राय

• पञ्चाक्षरस्य: of the five-syllabled (mantra)
• पञ्चाक्षरस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च-अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; समासः—पञ्च अक्षराणि (five syllables) द्विगु

• मन्त्रस्य: of the mantra
• मन्त्रस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सहस्रम्: a thousand
• सहस्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object/measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक (numeral used as count)

• द्वादशम्: twelve
• द्वादशम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक-विशेषण (qualifying sahasram: twelve [thousand])

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: By prescribing a fixed count (12,000), the text treats mantra-japa as a ‘tapas’ equivalent to pilgrimage merit, emphasizing inner tīrtha (śuddha-deśa + śuddha-manas) over mere geography.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: (implied) नमः शिवाय

Type: panchakshara

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Pañcākṣara-japa becomes spiritually potent when joined with inner purity and disciplined conduct, aligning the devotee (paśu) toward Shiva (Pati) through bhakti and mantra-sādhana.

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

The verse supports Saguna Shiva worship by prescribing a concrete practice—repetition of Shiva’s Pañcākṣara mantra—typically performed before or alongside Liṅga-pūjā in a clean sacred space.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A disciplined japa practice: sit in a clean, pleasant place with a purified mind and chant the Pañcākṣara mantra twelve thousand times (often counted with a mālā), maintaining personal and environmental purity.