Shloka 37

शिवपुराण-प्रशंसा (Praise of the Śiva Purāṇa) / Śivapurāṇa Māhātmya

Devanagari script

कैलाससंहिता तत्र ततोऽपि परमस्मृता । ब्रह्मस्वरूपिणी साक्षात्प्रणवार्थप्रकाशिका

Transliteration

kailāsasaṃhitā tatra tato'pi paramasmṛtā | brahmasvarūpiṇī sākṣātpraṇavārthaprakāśikā

Translation

Among them, the Kailāsa Saṃhitā is remembered as even more supreme. It is verily of the very nature of Brahman itself, directly illuminating the true meaning of the Praṇava (Om).

Word by Word

• कैलाससंहिता: the Kailāsa-saṃhitā
• कैलाससंहिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैलास + संहिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) ‘Saṃhitā of Kailāsa’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• तत्र: there, among them
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• ततः: than that, from that
• ततः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय; ‘from that/than that’ (comparative source)

• अपि: even, also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक निपात (also/even)

• परमा: supreme
• परमा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; superlative ‘highest’

• स्मृता: is regarded (as)
• स्मृता: Kriya (क्रिया/nominal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृत (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त from √स्मृ)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; passive participle ‘is considered/called’

• ब्रह्मस्वरूपिणी: whose nature is Brahman
• ब्रह्मस्वरूपिणी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + स्वरूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास ‘having Brahman as (its) nature’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; adjective to ‘kailāsasaṃhitā’

• साक्षात्: directly
• साक्षात्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) ‘directly/manifestly’

• प्रणवार्थप्रकाशिका: revealer of the meaning of Praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवार्थप्रकाशिका: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रणव + अर्थ + प्रकाशिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास: (प्रणवस्य अर्थः) + प्रकाशिका ‘revealer’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; adjective to ‘kailāsasaṃhitā’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse elevates the Kailāsa-saṃhitā as ‘brahma-svarūpiṇī’ and as the revealer of praṇava-artha; it functions as a śāstra-māhātmya statement rather than a site-origin narrative.

Significance: Frames scriptural recitation/hearing as a direct means to grasp praṇava-artha (Oṃ’s import), implying jñāna-bhakti leading to inner purification and orientation toward Śiva as Parabrahman.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: oṃ (praṇava)

Type: gayatri

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It elevates the Kailāsa Saṃhitā as a highest teaching-section because it reveals Brahman-realization through Shiva-centered understanding, especially by clarifying the inner meaning of Om as the direct pointer to the Supreme.

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

By calling the teaching “Brahman-natured” and “revealing Om,” it links Saguna worship (Linga, mantra, devotion) to Nirguna realization—showing that Shiva’s worship culminates in direct insight into the Supreme Reality indicated by Praṇava.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditative japa of Praṇava (Om), ideally integrated with Shiva-mantra practice (such as Om Namaḥ Śivāya), using contemplation on Om’s meaning as the doorway from devotional worship to inner realization.