Shloka 19

Yoga-Sleep, Cosmic Dissolution, and the Lotus of Creation

with Mārkaṇḍeya’s Vision

Devanagari script

प्रणवः पुरुषः शास्ता एकश्चेति विभाव्यते । प्राणः पंचविधश्चैव ध्रुवमक्षरमेव च

Transliteration

praṇavaḥ puruṣaḥ śāstā ekaśceti vibhāvyate | prāṇaḥ paṃcavidhaścaiva dhruvamakṣarameva ca

Translation

ତାଙ୍କୁ ପ୍ରଣବ (ଓଁ), ପୁରୁଷ, ଶାସ୍ତା (ଦିବ୍ୟ ଗୁରୁ) ଏବଂ ଏକ—ଏଭଳି ଧ୍ୟାନ କରାଯାଏ। ସେଇ ପଞ୍ଚବିଧ ପ୍ରାଣ; ସେଇ ଧ୍ରୁବ, ଅକ୍ଷର, ଅବିନାଶୀ ତତ୍ତ୍ୱ।

Word by Word

• प्रणवः: the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पुरुषः: the Person (Puruṣa)
• पुरुषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• शास्ता: the ruler/teacher
• शास्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास् (धातु) + तृ (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय) → शास्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तृ-प्रत्ययान्त कर्तृवाचक (agent noun)

• एकः: one
• एकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• विभाव्यते: is contemplated/considered
• विभाव्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• प्राणः: the vital breath
• प्राणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पञ्चविधः: fivefold
• पञ्चविधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पञ्चानां विधः = of five kinds)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• ध्रुवम्: fixed/constant
• ध्रुवम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• अक्षरम्: the imperishable (syllable/absolute)
• अक्षरम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Unspecified in the provided excerpt (context needed from Adhyaya 39 narration/dialogue).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: एकश्चेति = एकः + च + इति; पञ्चविधश्चैव = पञ्चविधः + च + एव; ध्रुवमक्षरमेव = ध्रुवम् + अक्षरम् + एव

FAQs

What does this verse teach about Oṁ (Praṇava) in the Padma Purana?

It identifies Oṁ as a direct contemplative form of the Supreme—equating Praṇava with the Supreme Person, the guiding Teacher, and the One Reality.

What are the “fivefold” forms of prāṇa referred to here?

In classical Sanskrit tradition, prāṇa is commonly taught as five vital airs: prāṇa, apāna, vyāna, udāna, and samāna—functions of life-force within the body.

What is the ethical or spiritual takeaway of calling the Supreme “dhruva” and “akṣara”?

It encourages steadiness in practice and devotion: the ultimate refuge is unchanging and imperishable, so one should anchor the mind in that Reality rather than in transient conditions.