Shloka 2

प्रणवमहिमा — The Greatness of the Praṇava (Om) as Śiva

Devanagari script

प्रणवार्थपरिज्ञानमेव ज्ञानं मदात्मकम् । बीजन्तत्सर्वविद्यानां मंत्र म्प्रणवनामकम्

Transliteration

praṇavārthaparijñānameva jñānaṃ madātmakam | bījantatsarvavidyānāṃ maṃtra mpraṇavanāmakam

Translation

真の知とは、プラナヴァ（オーム）の義を直に悟ることである。なぜならその知は、まさに我が本性だからである。そのプラナヴァ—マントラと呼ばれるもの—は、あらゆる聖なる学の枝葉の種子である。

Word by Word

• प्रणवार्थपरिज्ञानम्: knowledge of the meaning of Praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवार्थपरिज्ञानम्: Karta (कर्ता; subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव + अर्थ + परिज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (प्रणवस्य अर्थस्य परिज्ञानम् = knowledge of the meaning of praṇava)

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक-निपात (particle of emphasis)

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Pradhāna (प्रधान; predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

• मदात्मकम्: of my nature
• मदात्मकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मद् + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मम आत्मा यस्य/मयि आत्मा = of my nature)

• बीजम्: seed
• बीजम्: Pradhāna (प्रधान; predicate/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय/उपमा-रूपक (seed as predicate)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण (referring back to praṇava/jñāna)

• सर्वविद्यानाम्: of all sciences/knowledges
• सर्वविद्यानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (सर्वाः विद्याः)

• मन्त्रम्: mantra
• मन्त्रम्: Pradhāna (प्रधान; predicate/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रणवनामकम्: called ‘Praṇava’
• प्रणवनामकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रणव + नामक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्रणव-नामक = named ‘Praṇava’)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: ॐ (प्रणवः)

Type: gayatri

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Praṇava (Oṃ)

FAQs

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

It declares that the highest jñāna is realizing the meaning of Oṃ (Praṇava), because that realization is identical with Śiva’s own nature and is the root-source of all sacred learning.

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

Praṇava functions as the subtle support for worship: while the Liṅga is a visible focus (saguṇa-upāsanā), meditation on Oṃ points the devotee to Śiva as the inner reality behind all forms, culminating in direct knowledge.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Japa and contemplation of Praṇava (Oṃ)—not merely repetition, but sustained reflection on its meaning—serves as a core Shaiva meditative discipline, often paired with Śiva-mantra practice.