Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

सूक्ष्ममेकाक्षरं विद्यात्स्थूलं पंचाक्षरं विदुः । सूक्ष्ममव्यक्तपंचार्णं सुव्यक्तार्णं तथेतरत्

Transliteration

sūkṣmamekākṣaraṃ vidyātsthūlaṃ paṃcākṣaraṃ viduḥ | sūkṣmamavyaktapaṃcārṇaṃ suvyaktārṇaṃ tathetarat

Translation

Sabe que o sutil é o de uma só sílaba, “Oṁ”, e o grosseiro é o de cinco sílabas. O sutil é a realidade pentassilábica não manifesta; o outro é a forma silábica claramente manifesta para a adoração.

Word by Word

• sūkṣmam: the subtle (form)
• sūkṣmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūkṣma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); object-complement with 'vidyāt'

• eka-akṣaram: one-syllabled
• eka-akṣaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); द्विगु-समास: one-syllabled; विशेषण to 'sūkṣmam'

• vidyāt: should know / should understand
• vidyāt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• sthūlam: the gross (form)
• sthūlam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• paṃca-akṣaram: five-syllabled
• paṃca-akṣaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paṃca (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); द्विगु-समास: five-syllabled; विशेषण to 'sthūlam'

• viduḥ: they know / have known
• viduḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

• sūkṣmam: the subtle (one)
• sūkṣmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūkṣma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• a-vyakta-paṃca-arṇam: unmanifest five-lettered
• a-vyakta-paṃca-arṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + vyakta (प्रातिपदिक) + paṃca (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + arṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समास: 'avyaktaṃ paṃcārṇaṃ' = five-syllabled/lettered but unmanifest; विशेषण to 'sūkṣmam'

• su-vyakta-arṇam: well-manifest lettered
• su-vyakta-arṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su- (उपसर्ग/उपपद) + vyakta (प्रातिपदिक) + arṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय-समास: 'su-vyaktaṃ arṇam' = well-manifest lettered; विशेषण (to implied 'sthūlam' or 'tat')

• tathā: thus / likewise
• tathā: Sambandha/Anvaya (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: तथार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: 'thus/so/likewise')

• itarat: the other (form)
• itarat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: itara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); 'the other (one)'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Tatpuruṣa

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: oṃ (ekākṣara, praṇava) ; namaḥ śivāya (pañcākṣara)

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva’s mantra has two levels: the subtle inner essence as Oṁ (praṇava) and the accessible manifest practice as the five-syllabled Namaḥ Śivāya—linking contemplation (sūkṣma) with devotional worship (sthūla).

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

The manifest syllabled form supports Saguna/Liṅga-oriented upāsanā through audible japa, while the subtle level points to Shiva as the unmanifest reality behind the same mantra—uniting form-based worship with inner realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice pañcākṣarī-japa (“Namaḥ Śivāya”) as the outward discipline, and cultivate inner absorption in praṇava (“Oṁ”) as the subtle contemplation—ideally alongside Shaiva observances like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa as supportive aids.