Shloka 16

प्रणवार्थपद्धतिवर्णनम्

Methodical Explanation of the Meaning of Praṇava/Om

Devanagari script

जगतः पितृभूतानां शिवो मूर्त्यात्मनामपि । पितृभावेन सर्वेषां पितामह उदीरितः

Transliteration

jagataḥ pitṛbhūtānāṃ śivo mūrtyātmanāmapi | pitṛbhāvena sarveṣāṃ pitāmaha udīritaḥ

Translation

ശിവൻ ലോകത്തിന്റെ പിതാവും ദേഹധാരികളായ ജീവികളുടെ പിതൃസ്വരൂപനും ആകുന്നു; അതിനാൽ സർവർക്കുമുള്ള പിതൃഭാവത്താൽ അദ്ദേഹം ‘പിതാമഹൻ’—മഹാപിതാവ്—എന്ന് പ്രസിദ്ധൻ।

Word by Word

• जगतः: of the world
• जगतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• पितृ-भूतानाम्: of those who have become fathers/ancestors
• पितृ-भूतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √भू क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पितृभूत = पितृवत् भूतः/पितृरूपेण स्थितः); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मूर्ति-आत्मनाम्: of embodied beings
• मूर्ति-आत्मनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मूर्त्यात्मन् = मूर्तिः आत्मा यस्य/मूर्तिरूप आत्मा; ‘embodied selves’); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-निपात (also/even)

• पितृ-भावेन: by/through the state of fatherhood
• पितृ-भावेन: Karana (करण/Instrument or manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पितृभाव = पितृत्वभावः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• पितामहः: grandfather/forefather
• पितामहः: Pratipādya (प्रतिपाद्य/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उदीरितः: is declared/called
• उदीरितः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-√ईर् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थः ‘कथितः/उक्तः’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares Śiva as the supreme Pati—the primal source and sustaining Father of all embodied beings—implying that true refuge and liberation ultimately rest in Him rather than in limited worldly progenitors.

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

Calling Śiva the universal Father supports Saguna upāsanā: devotees approach Him through the Śiva-liṅga and other sacred forms as the compassionate, accessible Lord who generates, sustains, and guides all souls.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate filial surrender (pitṛ-bhāva) to Śiva through daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” accompanied by liṅga-pūjā with bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and, where possible, Rudrākṣa for steady remembrance.