Shloka 79

Adhyāya 25 — Liṅga-māhātmya (The Chapter on the Liṅga): Hari’s Śiva-Worship and the Fiery Pillar Theophany

Devanagari script

प्रोच्चारन्तौ महानादमोङ्कारं परमं पदम् / प्रह्वाञ्जलिपुटोपेतौ शंभुं तुष्टुवतुः परम्

Transliteration

proccārantau mahānādamoṅkāraṃ paramaṃ padam / prahvāñjalipuṭopetau śaṃbhuṃ tuṣṭuvatuḥ param

Translation

അവർ മഹാനാദത്തോടെ മുഴങ്ങുന്ന ‘ഓം’—പരമപദം—ഉച്ചരിച്ചു. തലകുനിച്ച്, അഞ്ജലി ചേർത്ത്, പരമ ശംഭുവിനെ സ്തുതിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• proccārantau: uttering aloud
• proccārantau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-ud-√car (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त), Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• mahā-nādam: great-sounding, with a loud sound
• mahā-nādam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + nāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) compound; Neuter, Accusative, Singular; used as adjective to 'oṅkāram'

• oṅkāram: the syllable Oṃ
• oṅkāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: oṅkāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; qualifying 'padam'

• padam: word, state, abode
• padam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• prahva: bowed down, humble
• prahva: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prahva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual; first member in coordination with 'añjalipuṭopetau' describing the two

• añjali-puṭa-upetau: with hands joined in reverence
• añjali-puṭa-upetau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: añjali (प्रातिपदिक) + puṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + upeta (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound: 'añjalipuṭena upetau' (endowed with folded hands); Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• śambhum: Śambhu (Śiva)
• śambhum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śambhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• tuṣṭuvatuḥ: they two praised
• tuṣṭuvatuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: stu (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Dual (द्विवचन), Parasmaipada

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifying 'śambhum'

Speaker

Narratorial voice (Purāṇic narrator describing the devotees’ act of worship)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Oṃkāra
• Śambhu (Śiva)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the nature of the Supreme Self (Atman)?

By calling Oṃkāra the “paramaṃ padam” (supreme state/abode), the verse points to the Supreme reality as accessible through the primordial sound-symbol Oṃ—indicating a transcendent ground that devotionally culminates in the Supreme (here praised as Śambhu).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights mantra-yoga centered on Oṃ (praṇava), combined with embodied devotion—bowing (praṇāma) and añjali—suggesting a Pāśupata-leaning discipline where sound (nāda), reverence, and focused praise stabilize the mind toward īśvara-bhāva.

How does this verse depict the relationship between Shiva and Vishnu?

Even without naming Viṣṇu, the Kurma Purana’s broader frame supports a synthesis: the supreme principle is approached through Oṃ and praised as Śambhu, reflecting a non-sectarian tendency where the highest reality is honored through Śaiva language within a Vaiṣṇava Purāṇa.