Shloka 13

प्रणवार्थ-शिवतत्त्व-निर्णयः

The Determination of Śiva as the Meaning of Praṇava

Devanagari script

तदीयन्त्रिविधंरूपं स्थूलं सूक्ष्मं परन्ततः । ध्येयं मुमुक्षुभिर्नित्यं क्रमतो योगिभिर्मुने

Transliteration

tadīyantrividhaṃrūpaṃ sthūlaṃ sūkṣmaṃ parantataḥ | dhyeyaṃ mumukṣubhirnityaṃ kramato yogibhirmune

Translation

ഹേ മുനേ, അവന്റെ തത്ത്വം ത്രിവിധരൂപം—സ്ഥൂലം, സൂക്ഷ്മം, പിന്നെ പരമാതീതം. അതുകൊണ്ട് മുമുക്ഷുക്കൾ നിത്യം ധ്യാനിക്കണം; യോഗികൾ ക്രമമായി യഥാവിധി മുന്നേറണം।

Word by Word

• तदीयम्: belonging to that (its)
• तदीयम्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तदीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (neuter nom/acc sg adjective)

• त्रिविधम्: threefold
• त्रिविधम्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगुसमास (threefold)

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter nom/acc sg)

• स्थूलम्: gross
• स्थूलम्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सूक्ष्मम्: subtle
• सूक्ष्मम्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• ततः: thereafter; then
• ततः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः: अव्यय/क्रियाविशेषण (indeclinable adverb: 'thereafter/then')

• ध्येयम्: to be meditated upon
• ध्येयम्: विधेय (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्यै (धातु) + य (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (भाव्य/अनुकरणीय): ध्येय (gerundive/तव्यत्-अर्थ), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'to be meditated upon'

• मुमुक्षुभिः: by seekers of liberation
• मुमुक्षुभिः: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुमुक्षु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन (instrumental plural)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन क्रियाविशेषणवत् प्रयोगः; अव्यय-प्रकारः: कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time: always)

• क्रमतः: in sequence; step by step
• क्रमतः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित)
• Form: तद्धितान्त अव्यय (तस्-प्रत्यय), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb): 'in order/stepwise'

• योगिभिः: by yogins
• योगिभिः: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (instrumental plural)

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva is realized in a progressive way—first as the manifest (sthūla), then as the inner subtle presence (sūkṣma), and finally as the supreme transcendent reality beyond both—guiding the mumukṣu toward mokṣa through steady meditation.

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

The “gross” form aligns with Saguna worship such as the Śiva-liṅga and ritual devotion, which stabilizes the mind; from that foundation the yogin internalizes worship as subtle contemplation, culminating in realization of Śiva as the transcendent (para) beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It recommends daily dhyāna in stages (krama): begin with focused worship/visualization of Śiva (often supported by mantra like the Pañcākṣarī), refine into subtle inward absorption, and rest in awareness of the supreme Śiva beyond attributes.