Shloka 32

प्रणवमहिमा — The Greatness of the Praṇava (Om) as Śiva

Devanagari script

यन्त्रं तु देवतारूपं देवता विश्वरूपिणी । विश्वरूपो गुरुः प्रोक्तश्शिष्यो गुरुवपुस्त्वतः

Transliteration

yantraṃ tu devatārūpaṃ devatā viśvarūpiṇī | viśvarūpo guruḥ proktaśśiṣyo guruvapustvataḥ

Translation

ଯନ୍ତ୍ର ନିଶ୍ଚୟ ଦେବତାଙ୍କର ରୂପ; ଦେବତା ମଧ୍ୟ ବିଶ୍ୱରୂପିଣୀ। ଗୁରୁ ବିଶ୍ୱରୂପ ବୋଲି କୁହାଯାଇଛି; ତେଣୁ ଶିଷ୍ୟକୁ ଗୁରୁଙ୍କ ଦେହରୂପେ ମାନିବା ଉଚିତ।

Word by Word

• यन्त्रम्: the yantra
• यन्त्रम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—विरोध/अन्वय (particle: but/indeed)

• देवता-रूपम्: having the form of a deity
• देवता-रूपम्: विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देवता + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—देवतायाः रूपम्

• देवता: the deity
• देवता: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

• विश्व-रूपिणी: of universal form
• विश्व-रूपिणी: विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्व + रूपिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); उपपद/तत्पुरुषः—विश्वं रूपं यस्याः

• विश्व-रूपः: universal-formed
• विश्व-रूपः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्व + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारयः—विश्वः रूपः यस्य

• गुरुः: the guru
• गुरुः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रोक्तः: is said/declared
• प्रोक्तः: कर्मणि-भाव (Predicative/Passive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः ‘कथितः/उक्तः’

• शिष्यः: the disciple
• शिष्यः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

• गुरु-वपुः: the guru’s body/form
• गुरु-वपुः: विशेषण (Predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु + वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—गुरोः वपुः

• तु: indeed
• तु: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—अन्वय (particle)

• अतः: therefore/from this
• अतः: हेतु (Cause/Reason)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—हेतु/तस्मात् (causal/consecutive: therefore/from this)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Guru
• Deity (Devatā)

FAQs

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

It teaches non-separation in sacred practice: the yantra is not merely a tool but a living support of the devatā’s presence, and the Guru-disciple relationship is grounded in Shiva’s all-pervading (viśvarūpa) reality—guiding the seeker toward inner unity and liberation.

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

Like the Śiva-liṅga, the yantra functions as a saguna support for approaching the nirguna, all-pervading Shiva. The verse frames such worship as a bridge: form (yantra/liṅga) reveals the universal-form deity, enabling concentrated devotion and realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform yantra-centered upāsanā with mantra-japa while contemplating the devatā as viśvarūpa, and honor the Guru as a manifestation of that same universal Shiva—approaching practice with reverence, purity, and steady meditation.