Shloka 8

प्रणवार्थपद्धतिवर्णनम्

Methodical Explanation of the Meaning of Praṇava/Om

Devanagari script

अथवाऽशेषकल्याणगुणैकघन ईश्वरः । शिव इत्युच्यते सद्भिश्शिवतत्त्वार्थवेदिभिः

Transliteration

athavā'śeṣakalyāṇaguṇaikaghana īśvaraḥ | śiva ityucyate sadbhiśśivatattvārthavedibhiḥ

Translation

ಅಥವಾ ಸಮಸ್ತ ಕಲ್ಯಾಣಗುಣಗಳ ಏಕಘನಸ್ವರೂಪನಾದ ಆ ಈಶ್ವರನನ್ನು, ಶಿವತತ್ತ್ವಾರ್ಥವನ್ನು ತಿಳಿದ ಸಜ್ಜನರು ‘ಶಿವ’ ಎಂದು ಕರೆಯುತ್ತಾರೆ.

Word by Word

• अथवा: or else
• अथवा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: 'or else')

• अशेष-कल्याण-गुण-एक-घनः: whose mass is one (solid) of endless auspicious qualities
• अशेष-कल्याण-गुण-एक-घनः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशेष (प्रातिपदिक) + कल्याण (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + एक (प्रातिपदिक) + घन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular); बहुव्रीहिः (यस्य अशेषकल्याणगुणाः एकघनवत्)

• ईश्वरः: the Lord
• ईश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन (singular)

• शिवः: Śiva (as the name)
• शिवः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (quotative particle)

• उच्यते: is called
• उच्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive)

• सद्भिः: by the good (people)
• सद्भिः: Kartr/Agent-Instrument (कर्ता-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन (plural)

• शिव-तत्त्व-अर्थ-वेदिभिः: by those who know the meaning of Śiva-tattva
• शिव-तत्त्व-अर्थ-वेदिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + वेदिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन (plural); बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (शिवतत्त्वस्य अर्थं वेदन्ति ये)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines “Śiva” as the Supreme Lord whose very nature is the complete fullness of auspiciousness, indicating that realizing Śiva-tattva is realizing the highest, beneficent reality that grants liberation.

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

By describing Śiva as Īśvara endowed with all auspicious qualities, it supports Saguna devotion—worshipping the Lord through forms such as the Śiva-liṅga—while pointing to the deeper tattva (ultimate reality) known by the wise.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to meditate on Śiva as the embodiment of auspicious virtues while repeating the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating śivabhāva (Śiva-centered awareness) in worship.