Shloka 59

Praṇava-Māhātmya and the Twofold Mantra (Sūkṣma–Sthūla) in Śaiva Sādhanā

Devanagari script

पृथ्व्यादिकार्यभूतेभ्यो लोका वै निर्मिताः क्रमात् । पातालादि च सत्यांतं ब्रह्मलोकाश्चतुर्दश

Transliteration

pṛthvyādikāryabhūtebhyo lokā vai nirmitāḥ kramāt | pātālādi ca satyāṃtaṃ brahmalokāścaturdaśa

Translation

പൃഥ്വി മുതലായ കാര്യഭൂതങ്ങളിൽ നിന്നു ക്രമമായി ലോകങ്ങൾ നിർമ്മിക്കപ്പെട്ടു. പാതാളം മുതൽ സത്യലോകം വരെ, ബ്രഹ്മലോകം ഉൾപ്പെടെ ആകെ പതിനാലു ലോകങ്ങൾ.

Word by Word

• पृथ्वी-आदि-कार्य-भूतेभ्यः: from the elements that are effects beginning with earth
• पृथ्वी-आदि-कार्य-भूतेभ्यः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथ्वी + आदि + कार्य + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/अपादान), बहुवचन; समासः—पृथ्वी-आदि (तत्पुरुष) + कार्य-भूत (तत्पुरुष), समस्तपदम्; English: Neuter, Ablative plural

• लोकाः: worlds
• लोकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन; English: Masculine, Nominative plural

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; emphatic/assuring

• निर्मिताः: were created
• निर्मिताः: Karta-sāmānādhikaraṇya (कर्तृसामानाधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्मा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; English: PPP, nominative plural agreeing with subject

• क्रमात्: in due order / sequentially
• क्रमात्: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग (instrumental used adverbially); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति एकवचन; English: Instrumental singular used as adverb

• पाताल-आदि: beginning with Pātāla
• पाताल-आदि: Adjectival qualifier (विशेषणभाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाताल + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् समास-प्रयोग; समासः—पाताल-आदि (तत्पुरुष); अव्ययार्थे ‘आदि’ (beginning with)

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• सत्य-अन्तम्: up to Satya (as the end)
• सत्य-अन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—सत्य-अन्त (तत्पुरुष: ‘ending in Satya’); English: Neuter, Accusative singular

• ब्रह्म-लोकाः: Brahmā-worlds
• ब्रह्म-लोकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—ब्रह्म-लोक (तत्पुरुष: ‘Brahmā’s worlds’); English: Masculine, Nominative plural

• चतुर्दश: fourteen
• चतुर्दश: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्दश (संख्याशब्द, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक विशेषण; अव्ययवत्/अविकारी संख्याशब्द-प्रयोग; ‘चतुर्दश’ = 14; English: numeral adjective

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Cosmographic mapping of lokas functions as a contemplative aid: recognizing the graded, created nature of worlds (kārya-bhūtas) supports dispassion and reorientation toward Śiva beyond the cosmic tiers.

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

It situates the entire cosmos—fourteen worlds—as an ordered manifestation within creation, implying that all realms are within the scope of the Lord’s governance; in Shaiva Siddhanta, liberation is not merely ascent to higher lokas but realizing Shiva (Pati) beyond the created order.

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

By describing the structured universe from Pātāla to Satya/Brahmaloka, the verse frames why devotees worship the Linga: as the accessible Saguna symbol of the transcendent Lord who pervades and surpasses all lokas, making devotion a direct means beyond cosmological status.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is contemplative japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while meditating that all lokas arise within creation, and that refuge in Shiva through mantra and worship leads beyond worldly gradations toward moksha.