Shloka 2
Ṣaḍvidhārtha-Parijñāna: Praṇavārtha and the Sixfold Unity of Meaning (षड्विधार्थपरिज्ञानम् / प्रणवार्थपरिज्ञानम्)
षड्विधार्त्थपरिज्ञानमिष्टदं किमुदाहृतम् । के तत्र षड्विधा अर्थाः परिज्ञानञ्च किं प्रभो
ṣaḍvidhārtthaparijñānamiṣṭadaṃ kimudāhṛtam | ke tatra ṣaḍvidhā arthāḥ parijñānañca kiṃ prabho
Ô Seigneur, qu’est-ce donc que cette «connaissance sextuple de l’artha (sens/fin)» dont on dit qu’elle accorde le fruit désiré ? Quels sont ces six artha, et que signifie exactement cette connaissance, ô Maître ?
Parvati
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse highlights that liberation-oriented Shaiva teaching is not merely ritual or recitation, but requires precise, complete understanding of doctrine—here framed as ‘sixfold knowledge of meaning’ that yields the sought spiritual fruit.
By asking what ‘true knowledge of meaning’ is, the verse sets the ground for informed worship: Linga-upasana becomes fruitful when the devotee understands Shiva as Pati (Lord), the soul as pashu, and bondage as pasha—so Saguna worship matures into liberating insight.
The direct takeaway is śravaṇa–manana (listening and reflective inquiry) into Shiva’s teaching; it supports mantra-japa (such as the Panchakshara) and Linga worship by insisting on correct contemplative understanding rather than mechanical practice.