Shloka 22
संध्याचरित्रवर्णनम् (Sandhyā-caritra-varṇanam) — “Narration of Sandhyā’s Austerity and Encounter with Śiva”
त्वं परः परमात्मा च त्वं विद्या विविधा हरः । सद्ब्रह्म च परं ब्रह्म विचारणपरायणः
tvaṃ paraḥ paramātmā ca tvaṃ vidyā vividhā haraḥ | sadbrahma ca paraṃ brahma vicāraṇaparāyaṇaḥ
നീ പരമൻ, നീ തന്നെയാണ് പരമാത്മാവ്. ഹരാ, നീ തന്നെയാണ് നാനാവിധ വിദ്യകൾ. നീ സദ്ബ്രഹ്മവും പരബ്രഹ്മവും—തത്ത്വവിചാരണയിൽ സദാ പരായണൻ.
Sati (praising Lord Shiva)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it is a jñāna-centered stuti identifying Śiva with vidyā and Brahman.
Significance: Supports jñāna-bhakti: approaching Śiva as the inner Self and as the source of all vidyās; conducive to study, contemplation, and guru-sevā at Śaiva maṭhas.
Mantra: त्वं परः परमात्मा च त्वं विद्या विविधा हरः । सद्ब्रह्म च परं ब्रह्म विचारणपरायणः
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse identifies Shiva as both the transcendent Supreme (Para, Parabrahman) and the indwelling Lord (Paramatma), teaching that liberation arises through devotion to Shiva along with discerning inquiry (vicara) into the highest Reality.
By calling Shiva both the supreme Brahman and the source of all vidyas, the verse supports Linga/Saguna worship as a valid doorway: the devotee approaches Shiva with form and attributes while realizing Him ultimately as the formless, transcendent Parabrahman.
It points to japa and contemplation together—reciting Shiva’s mantra (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while practicing vicara (inner inquiry) on Shiva as the Supreme Self, supported by traditional Shaiva aids like bhasma (tripundra) and rudraksha.