Shloka 72

Paramātma-Svarūpa-Nirṇaya: Strī–Puṃ–Napuṃsaka-Vicāra

Inquiry into the Supreme Self and Gendered Forms

Devanagari script

महेश्वरं क्रियोद्रेके तत्त्वं विद्धि मुनीश्वर । ज्ञानक्रियाशक्तिसाम्यं शुद्धविद्यात्मकं मतम्

Transliteration

maheśvaraṃ kriyodreke tattvaṃ viddhi munīśvara | jñānakriyāśaktisāmyaṃ śuddhavidyātmakaṃ matam

Translation

മുനീശ്വരാ, ക്രിയാശക്തി പ്രബലമായിരിക്കുന്ന തത്ത്വത്തെ ‘മഹേശ്വര-തത്ത്വം’ എന്നു അറിയുക. ജ്ഞാനവും ക്രിയയും സമതയിൽ നിലകൊള്ളുന്നത് ‘ശുദ്ധവിദ്യാ’ സ്വഭാവമെന്നു കരുതപ്പെടുന്നു।

Word by Word

• महेश्वरम्: Maheśvara
• महेश्वरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (2nd), एकवचन (sg.)

• क्रिया-उद्रेके: in the predominance of action
• क्रिया-उद्रेके: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्रेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सप्तमी विभक्ति (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन (sg.); समासः—तत्पुरुष (क्रियायाः उद्रेके)

• तत्त्वम्: principle
• तत्त्वम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (2nd), एकवचन (sg.)

• विद्धि: know (you)
• विद्धि: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (sg.)

• मुनीश्वर: O lord of sages
• मुनीश्वर: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (sg.)

• ज्ञान-क्रिया-शक्ति-साम्यम्: equality of the powers of knowledge and action
• ज्ञान-क्रिया-शक्ति-साम्यम्: कर्ता/प्रधानीय (Subject/Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + साम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (sg.); समासः—तत्पुरुष (ज्ञानक्रियाशक्त्योः साम्यम्)

• शुद्ध-विद्या-आत्मकम्: having the nature of pure knowledge (Śuddhavidyā)
• शुद्ध-विद्या-आत्मकम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + विद्या (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (sg.); समासः—तत्पुरुष (शुद्धविद्या आत्मा यस्य/यत्)

• मतम्: is considered
• मतम्: क्रियाविशेष (Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु) → मत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) ‘thought/considered’, नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (sg.); भावे प्रयोगः—‘मतम्’ = ‘is considered’

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: definition of Maheśvara-tattva (kriyā-udreka) and śuddhavidyā as jñāna-kriyā equilibrium enabling ordered manifestation

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines Mahēśvara-tattva as a higher Shaiva principle where kriyā-śakti is prominent, yet true purity (Śuddhavidyā) is marked by a balanced harmony of knowledge and action—guiding the seeker toward right understanding and liberation under Pati (Shiva).

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

Linga worship trains the devotee to unite jñāna (right discernment of Shiva as Pati) with kriyā (devotional and ritual action). This verse philosophically explains that mature Saguna worship should culminate in Śuddhavidyā—where action is purified by knowledge and both become aligned with Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady Linga-dhyāna, ensuring that outer kriyā (puja, abhiṣeka, bhasma/rudrākṣa observances) is matched by inner jñāna—contemplating Shiva as the supreme Pati beyond bondage.