Shloka 85

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

Devanagari script

तदूर्ध्वं वृषभो धर्मो ब्रह्मचर्यस्वरूपधृक् । सत्यादिपादयुक्तस्तु शिवलोकाग्रतः स्थितः

Transliteration

tadūrdhvaṃ vṛṣabho dharmo brahmacaryasvarūpadhṛk | satyādipādayuktastu śivalokāgrataḥ sthitaḥ

Translation

Au-dessus de cela se tient le Dharma sous la forme du taureau, portant l’essence du brahmacarya, la discipline chaste. Pourvu des « pieds » commençant par la Vérité (satya) et des autres vertus, il demeure devant le royaume de Śiva.

Word by Word

• तत्-ऊर्ध्वम्: thereafter; above that
• तत्-ऊर्ध्वम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial): ‘तस्मात् ऊर्ध्वम्’ = thereafter/above that

• वृषभः: the bull
• वृषभः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• धर्मः: Dharma (righteousness)
• धर्मः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/सम्बोधनार्थ-न), एकवचन; वृषभस्य विशेषण/समनाधिकरण

• ब्रह्मचर्य-स्वरूप-धृक्: bearing the form of brahmacarya
• ब्रह्मचर्य-स्वरूप-धृक्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मचर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक) + धृक् (कृदन्त; √धृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कृदन्त-धृक् (धारयति इति, वर्तमानकृदन्त-प्रायः); समासः तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मचर्यस्य स्वरूपं धत्ते)

• सत्य-आदि-पाद-युक्तः: endowed with feet (quarters) like truth etc.
• सत्य-आदि-पाद-युक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्त (कृदन्त; √युज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कृदन्त-भूतकृदन्त (क्त); समासः तत्पुरुषः (सत्यादयः पादाः तैः युक्तः)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषणार्थक-निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• शिव-लोक-अग्रतः: in front of Śiva’s realm
• शिव-लोक-अग्रतः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्रतस् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (locative sense): ‘शिवलोकस्य अग्रतः’ = in front of Śiva’s world/realm

• स्थितः: standing; stationed
• स्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थित (कृदन्त; √स्था)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कृदन्त-भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Depicts dharma (as vृषभ) as the threshold-guardian before Śiva-loka: ethical discipline (brahmacarya, satya etc.) is presented as the approach-road to Śiva’s grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Symbolic cosmology: above the adharma-kāla domain stands dharma as a stable support (bull), stationed at the frontier of Śiva-loka.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Dharma

FAQs

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

It presents Dharma as the stable support (the bull) whose essential power is brahmacarya, upheld by satya and allied virtues—qualities that qualify the soul to approach Śiva’s realm and grace.

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

Approaching Saguna Śiva through Liṅga-worship is not merely ritual; it is grounded in ethical and yogic discipline—truthfulness, restraint, and purity—which make devotion steady and fit for Śiva’s presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Brahmacarya as a vow (self-restraint), supported by satya in speech and conduct, alongside regular Śiva-upāsanā such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a pure, disciplined life.