Shloka 37

प्रणवार्थ-शिवतत्त्व-निर्णयः

The Determination of Śiva as the Meaning of Praṇava

Devanagari script

विश्वेदेवाः सत्यवसुसंज्ञावंतः प्रकीर्त्तिताः । देवश्राद्धे ब्रह्मविष्णु महेशाः कथितास्त्रयः

Transliteration

viśvedevāḥ satyavasusaṃjñāvaṃtaḥ prakīrttitāḥ | devaśrāddhe brahmaviṣṇu maheśāḥ kathitāstrayaḥ

Translation

ವಿಶ್ವೇದೇವರು ‘ಸತ್ಯವಸು’ ಎಂಬ ಸಂಜ್ಞೆಯಿಂದ ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧರೆಂದು ಘೋಷಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಮತ್ತು ದೇವ-ಶ್ರಾದ್ಧದಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಶೇಷವಾಗಿ ಮೂವರು—ಬ್ರಹ್ಮ, ವಿಷ್ಣು, ಮಹೇಶ (ಶಿವ)—ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಲಾಗಿದೆ.

Word by Word

• विश्वे-देवाः: the Viśvedevas (all-gods)
• विश्वे-देवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वे (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्मधारयः (viśve devāḥ)

• सत्यवसु-संज्ञावन्तः: known as ‘Satyavasu’
• सत्यवसु-संज्ञावन्तः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्यवसु (प्रातिपदिक) + संज्ञावन्त् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); ‘सत्यवसु’ इति संज्ञा यस्य (having the designation ‘Satyavasu’)

• प्रकीर्तिताः: are proclaimed
• प्रकीर्तिताः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन; कर्मणि भावः ‘are proclaimed’

• देव-श्राद्धे: in the deva-śrāddha (rite for gods)
• देव-श्राद्धे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (devānām śrāddhe)

• ब्रह्म: Brahmā
• ब्रह्म: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); समुच्चयार्थे सूची (listed as member)

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); समुच्चयार्थे सूची

• महेशाः: Maheśa (Śiva)
• महेशाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); अत्र ‘महेशः’ (Śiva) इत्यर्थे, त्रयाणां गणनायां समावेशः

• कथिताः: are said; are stated
• कथिताः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन

• त्रयः: three
• त्रयः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames Maheśa within deva-śrāddha recipients, reinforcing Śiva’s role as cosmic overseer and stabilizer of dharma through ritual order.

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Shiva
• Vishvedevas

FAQs

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

It clarifies ritual theology: certain classes of gods (Viśvedevas) have specific identifications, and in Deva-śrāddha the triad is invoked—yet from a Shaiva Siddhanta lens Maheśa remains the supreme Pati, with other deities functioning within His cosmic order.

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

By naming Maheśa explicitly in a formal rite, the verse supports Saguna worship—Śiva approached through prescribed ritual forms. In Shaiva practice, such remembrance naturally culminates in linga-centered devotion, where Maheśa is honored as the accessible form of the Supreme.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to performing Deva-śrāddha with correct deity-invocation. A Shaiva takeaway is to accompany offerings with Śiva-smaraṇa—mentally repeating the Panchākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") while dedicating the rite to Maheśa as the inner witness of all worship.