Shloka 84
Paramātma-Svarūpa-Nirṇaya: Strī–Puṃ–Napuṃsaka-Vicāra
Inquiry into the Supreme Self and Gendered Forms
एतत्पंचकमेवास्य स्वरूपा वारकत्वतः । पञ्चकञ्चुकमाख्यातमन्तरंगं च साधनम्
etatpaṃcakamevāsya svarūpā vārakatvataḥ | pañcakañcukamākhyātamantaraṃgaṃ ca sādhanam
この五つの組は、彼の真の本性を覆い隠すがゆえに「パンチャカンチュカ」（pañcakañcuka）—五重の鞘—と呼ばれる。またそれは、理解し超克すべき内なる修行手段（antaraṅga-sādhana）であるとも宣示される。
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Role: teaching
FAQs
It identifies the “five-fold sheath” (pañcakañcuka) as the set of limitations that conceal the soul’s true Shiva-nature, and emphasizes that recognizing and transcending these coverings is an inner, liberating discipline.
Saguna worship (such as Linga-pūjā) supports inner purification; this verse points to the deeper aim—removing the veils that obscure direct awareness of Shiva—so outer worship becomes a means toward inner unveiling.
The verse primarily points to inner sādhana: contemplation on the soul’s bondage and the coverings that limit it, supported by Shaiva disciplines like japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), dhyāna, and purity practices aligned with Shiva worship.