Shloka 68

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

Devanagari script

तदर्वाक्कर्मभोगो हि तदूर्ध्वं ज्ञानभोगकम् । तदर्वाक्कर्ममाया हि ज्ञानमाया तदूर्ध्वकम्

Transliteration

tadarvākkarmabhogo hi tadūrdhvaṃ jñānabhogakam | tadarvākkarmamāyā hi jñānamāyā tadūrdhvakam

Translation

ആ നിലയ്ക്കു താഴെ അനുഭവം കർമഭോഗം—കർമജന്യ സുഖദുഃഖം; അതിന് മുകളിൽ അനുഭവം ജ്ഞാനഭോഗം—ജ്ഞാനജന്യ ആനന്ദം. താഴെ കർമമായ ബന്ധിപ്പിക്കുന്നു; മുകളിൽ ജ്ഞാനമായ പ്രവർത്തിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (अव्ययार्थे ‘तत्’ = ‘that/then’ संदर्भसूचक)

• अर्वाक्: below; on this side
• अर्वाक्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: arvāk (अव्यय)
• Form: दिशावाचक-अव्यय (directional adverb); ‘below/this side’

• कर्मभोगः: enjoyment/experience of karma
• कर्मभोगः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karma + bhoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘कर्मणः भोगः’

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic/causal)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (संदर्भसूचक)

• ऊर्ध्वम्: above
• ऊर्ध्वम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ūrdhva (अव्यय)
• Form: दिशावाचक-अव्यय (directional adverb)

• ज्ञानभोगकम्: experience/enjoyment of knowledge
• ज्ञानभोगकम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna + bhogaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘ज्ञानस्य भोगकं’ (that which is the experience/enjoyment of knowledge)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अर्वाक्: below
• अर्वाक्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: arvāk (अव्यय)
• Form: दिशावाचक-अव्यय

• कर्ममाया: the māyā of karma
• कर्ममाया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karma + māyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘कर्मणः माया’

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात

• ज्ञानमाया: the māyā of knowledge
• ज्ञानमाया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna + māyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘ज्ञानस्य माया’

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ऊर्ध्वकम्: upper; pertaining to above
• ऊर्ध्वकम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ūrdhvaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तद्धित/क-प्रत्ययान्त (forming ‘upper/above-related’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It distinguishes two modes of bondage and experience: the lower state dominated by karmic fruition (karma-bhoga) and the higher state where experience is refined by spiritual knowledge (jñāna-bhoga). In Shaiva thought, liberation matures as the soul turns from compulsive action-fruits to Shiva-oriented knowledge that loosens pāśa (bondage).

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

Linga-worship can begin as karma (ritual action seeking results), but when offered to Saguna Shiva with right understanding, it becomes a vehicle for jñāna—purifying intention and revealing Shiva as Pati (the Lord) beyond māyā. Thus the same practice can lift one from karmamāyā toward jñānamāyā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Transform karma into jñāna by doing Shiva-pūjā and japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with contemplative meaning—offering results to Shiva, wearing bhasma and/or rudrākṣa with humility, and meditating on Shiva as the inner witness rather than seeking worldly fruits.