Shloka 88

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

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेशानां स्वस्वायुर्दिनमुच्यते । तदूर्ध्वं न दिनं रात्रिर्न जन्ममरणादिकम्

Transliteration

brahmaviṣṇumaheśānāṃ svasvāyurdinamucyate | tadūrdhvaṃ na dinaṃ rātrirna janmamaraṇādikam

Translation

ബ്രഹ്മാ, വിഷ്ണു, മഹേശൻ—അവരുടെ അവരവരുടെ ആയുസ്സ് ‘ദിനം’ എന്ന അളവിൽ പറയപ്പെടുന്നു. എന്നാൽ ആ പരമാവസ്ഥയ്ക്ക് മീതെ ദിനമില്ല, രാത്രിയില്ല; ജനനം-മരണം മുതലായതുമില്ല.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेशानाम्: of Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśa
• ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेशानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + maheśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (ब्रह्मा च विष्णुश्च महेशश्च)

• स्वस्वायुः: each one’s lifespan
• स्वस्वायुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + sva (प्रातिपदिक) + āyus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (स्वं स्वम् आयुः = ‘each one’s lifespan’)

• दिनम्: a day
• दिनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उच्यते: is said / is called
• उच्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• तद्: from/than that
• तद्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी/सप्तमी-प्रयोग, एकवचन (तदूर्ध्वम्)

• ऊर्ध्वम्: above
• ऊर्ध्वम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ūrdhva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोग (adverbial accusative)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• दिनम्: day
• दिनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रात्रिः: night
• रात्रिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rātri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• न: nor / not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• जन्ममरणादिकम्: birth, death, and the like
• जन्ममरणादिकम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janman (प्रातिपदिक) + maraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व-प्रायः + ‘आदि’ (जन्म च मरणं च इत्यादि)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Viveka between conditioned cosmic offices (Brahmā/Viṣṇu/Maheśa within time-measures) and the supratemporal state; supports vairāgya and aspiration for Śiva’s grace beyond saṃsāra.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Transcendence of cosmic time (day/night) and saṃsāra (birth/death) asserted

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It contrasts cosmic time (even for the highest deities) with the supreme, timeless reality—where liberation means freedom from all temporal conditions like day/night and from saṃsāra such as birth and death.

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

Linga worship points the devotee from measurable, formed reality (saguṇa manifestations within time) toward the timeless Pati—Śiva—who transcends cosmic cycles; the Linga is a gateway-symbol to that beyond-time state.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Śiva as Kāla-atiīta (beyond time) while repeating the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and steady the mind in inner Linga-dhyāna, aiming at detachment from change, fear of death, and temporal anxieties.