Shloka 61

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

Devanagari script

कार्यलक्ष्म्या महाभोगिरक्षां कृत्वाऽधितिष्ठति । तदूर्ध्वगाश्च शुच्यंतां लोकाष्टाविंशतिः स्थिताः

Transliteration

kāryalakṣmyā mahābhogirakṣāṃ kṛtvā'dhitiṣṭhati | tadūrdhvagāśca śucyaṃtāṃ lokāṣṭāviṃśatiḥ sthitāḥ

Translation

കർമ്മലക്ഷ്മിയുടെ ക്രമപ്രകാരം മഹാഭോഗികൾക്കായി മഹാരക്ഷ സ്ഥാപിച്ച് അദ്ദേഹം അവിടെ അധിഷ്ഠിതനായി വസിക്കുന്നു. അതിന് മുകളിൽ ശുദ്ധാവസ്ഥയിൽ മേലോട്ടുയരുന്ന ഇരുപത്തിയെട്ട് ലോകങ്ങൾ നിലകൊള്ളുന്നു.

Word by Word

• कार्य-लक्ष्म्या: by (the) Kārya-Lakṣmī
• कार्य-लक्ष्म्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष ("by/with the Lakṣmī of action/efficacy")

• महाभोगि-रक्षाम्: protection (called) Mahābhogī-rakṣā
• महाभोगि-रक्षाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभोगिन् (प्रातिपदिक) + रक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष ("protection of the great enjoyer" / "great-enjoyer-protection")

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/absolutive), अर्थः—‘having done’

• अधितिष्ठति: presides/abides
• अधितिष्ठति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि+स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (refers to following)

• ऊर्ध्वगाः: going upward/above
• ऊर्ध्वगाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऊर्ध्वग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• शुच्यन्ताम्: let (them) be purified
• शुच्यन्ताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुच् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपद; अर्थः—‘let them be purified’

• लोक-अष्टाविंशतिः: the twenty-eight worlds
• लोक-अष्टाविंशतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + अष्टाविंशति (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष ("twenty-eight worlds")

• स्थिताः: situated
• स्थिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; अर्थः—‘situated/standing’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: lokabheda (graded cosmology of worlds)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents Śiva as the supreme governor (Pati) who upholds cosmic order: worldly enjoyments are protected within dharmic bounds, while higher realms are characterized by increasing purity—hinting that purification and right action support ascent toward liberation.

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

By describing Śiva’s presiding sovereignty over the worlds, the verse supports Saguna worship of the Liṅga as the accessible form of the transcendent Lord who sustains, protects, and elevates beings through grace and cosmic law.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied takeaway is purification leading upward: practice japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with inner and outer śauca, supported by Śaiva disciplines such as bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa for steadiness and sanctification.