Shloka 57

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

Devanagari script

कार्यब्रह्मण एवं हि सायुज्यं प्रतिपद्य वै । यथेष्टं भोगमाप्नोति तद्ब्रह्मप्रलयावधि

Transliteration

kāryabrahmaṇa evaṃ hi sāyujyaṃ pratipadya vai | yatheṣṭaṃ bhogamāpnoti tadbrahmapralayāvadhi

Translation

Ainsi, en vérité, ayant atteint l’union (sāyujya) avec le Brahman manifesté, on jouit des plaisirs selon son désir, jusqu’au temps de la dissolution de Brahmā.

Word by Word

• kārya-brahmaṇaḥ: of the created Brahmā (kārya-brahman)
• kārya-brahmaṇaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya + brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (षष्ठी/6th case), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Prakāra-avya ya (प्रकार-अव्यय), adverb

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha-sūcaka (सम्बन्धसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (निपात), emphasis/causal particle

• sāyujyam: union, absorption
• sāyujyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāyujya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (द्वितीया/2nd case), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• pratipadya: having attained/entered
• pratipadya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prati-√pad (पद्) (धातु)
• Form: Ktvā-pratyaya (क्त्वा) with ya-ādeśa (ल्यप्), Avyaya-bhāva (अव्ययभाव), gerund

• vai: indeed, surely
• vai: Sambandha-sūcaka (सम्बन्धसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (निपात), emphatic particle

• yathā-iṣṭam: as desired
• yathā-iṣṭam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā + iṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva-samāsa (अव्ययीभाव), adverbial; indeclinable usage

• bhogam: enjoyment
• bhogam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (द्वितीया/2nd case), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• āpnoti: attains
• āpnoti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √āp (आप्) (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्/Present), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष/3rd person), Ekavacana (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• tat-brahma-pralaya-avadhi: until the dissolution of that Brahmā
• tat-brahma-pralaya-avadhi: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tat + brahma + pralaya + avadhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva-samāsa (अव्ययीभाव) used adverbially; sense: “up to …”; (functionally like yāvat/avadhi)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: The verse’s emphasis on sāyujya with ‘kārya-brahman’ (manifested Brahman) and enjoyment until brahma-pralaya aligns with kṣetra-theology where higher realms still fall under cosmic dissolution; only Śiva’s supreme state is beyond pralaya in Siddhānta framing.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: brahma-pralaya (dissolution at the end of Brahmā’s lifespan)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

It teaches that certain exalted attainments still remain within the domain of manifestation: the soul may reach sāyujya with the created (kārya) Brahman and enjoy desired experiences, but this state is time-bound and ends at Brahmā’s dissolution—implying the superiority of Shiva-centered final liberation beyond pralaya.

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

By distinguishing temporary, created-plane attainments from the transcendent goal, it supports Linga/Saguna Shiva worship as a means to rise beyond limited cosmic states and toward the Supreme Pati (Shiva) who is not ended by brahma-pralaya.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to pursue Shiva-upāsanā aimed at liberation rather than mere enjoyment—especially japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady meditation on the Linga, so the fruit becomes enduring moksha rather than pralaya-bound bhoga.