Shloka 79

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

Devanagari script

तदर्वाग्बिंदुरूपं हि नादरूपं तदुत्तरम् । तदर्वाक्कर्मलोकस्तु तदूर्ध्वं ज्ञानलोककः

Transliteration

tadarvāgbiṃdurūpaṃ hi nādarūpaṃ taduttaram | tadarvākkarmalokastu tadūrdhvaṃ jñānalokakaḥ

Translation

Below that is indeed the realm in the form of Bindu, and above it is the realm in the form of Nāda. Below lies the world of action (karma-loka), while above is the world of knowledge (jñāna-loka).

Word by Word

• तत्: that (as reference)
• तत्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• अर्वाक्: below / on this side
• अर्वाक्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अर्वाक् (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; adverb/preposition-like (directional)

• बिन्दु-रूपम्: the form of the bindu
• बिन्दु-रूपम्: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बिन्दु (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): 'of a bindu'

• हि: indeed / for
• हि: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (निपात)

• नाद-रूपम्: the form of nāda
• नाद-रूपम्: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाद (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'of nāda'

• तत्: that
• तत्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• उत्तरम्: higher / subsequent
• उत्तरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular; used adjectivally

• तत्: that
• तत्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular

• अर्वाक्: below
• अर्वाक्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अर्वाक् (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; directional adverb

• कर्म-लोकः: the world of action
• कर्म-लोकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st—प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'world of action'

• तु: but / however
• तु: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (निपात), contrastive

• तत्: that
• तत्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular

• ऊर्ध्वम्: above
• ऊर्ध्वम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (directional)

• ज्ञान-लोककः: the knowledge-world
• ज्ञान-लोककः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + लोकक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st—प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'world (called) of knowledge'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It outlines a Shaiva hierarchy of inner and cosmic planes: karma (action-bound living) is lower, while jñāna (liberating insight) is higher, with Bindu and Nāda indicating subtle spiritual principles leading the seeker toward Shiva-realization.

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

The Linga is presented in Shaiva thought as a bridge from the manifest to the subtle: devotion and ritual (karma) mature into inner contemplation of Nāda-Bindu, culminating in knowledge (jñāna) that reveals Shiva as the supreme Pati beyond bondage.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Move from outer karma to inner japa and dhyāna: repeat the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady breath-awareness, listening inwardly to nāda and concentrating the mind into bindu-like one-pointedness.