Shloka 39

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

Devanagari script

विषयेषु विरक्तः सन्नैहिकामुष्मिकेषु च । देवानां ब्राह्मणोऽपीह लोकजेषु शिवव्रती

Transliteration

viṣayeṣu viraktaḥ sannaihikāmuṣmikeṣu ca | devānāṃ brāhmaṇo'pīha lokajeṣu śivavratī

Translation

«Отрешенный от объектов чувств — как от мирских наслаждений, так и от небесных наград — он становится брахманом, достойным почитания богами, стойким в обете Шивы».

Word by Word

• विषयेषु: in sense-objects
• विषयेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विषय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• विरक्तः: detached
• विरक्तः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-रञ्ज् (धातु) + क्त → विरक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘detached’

• सन्: being
• सन्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/भाव)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु) → सन् (शतृ/वर्तमान कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘being’

• ऐहिकामुष्मिकेषु: in worldly and otherworldly (matters)
• ऐहिकामुष्मिकेषु: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऐहिक-अमुष्मिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (सन्दर्भे विषयेषु), सप्तमी, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वः—ऐहिक + अमुष्मिक (this-worldly and other-worldly)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• ब्राह्मणः: a brāhmaṇa
• ब्राह्मणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अपि: also; even
• अपि: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/समुच्चयार्थक (also/even)

• इह: here
• इह: Desha (देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (here)

• लोकजेषु: among those born in the world
• लोकजेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोकज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (सन्दर्भे), सप्तमी, बहुवचन; समासः—लोके जाताः (सप्तमी/तत्पुरुषप्राय)

• शिवव्रती: one who observes vows for Śiva; Śiva-devotee
• शिवव्रती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव-व्रतिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; इन्-प्रत्ययान्त; समासः—शिवस्य व्रती (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (teaching Shaiva discipline in the Kailasa Samhita discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that true spiritual nobility is measured by dispassion: freedom from craving not only for worldly pleasures but also for heavenly rewards. Such detachment, joined with Shiva-vrata, loosens pasha (bondage) and turns life itself into a path toward Shiva (Pati).

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

Linga-worship and Saguna Shiva devotion are meant to purify intention: one approaches Shiva not as a means to gain enjoyments (here or in heaven) but as the supreme refuge. The verse frames Shiva-bhakti as vow-based inner transformation rather than transaction for results.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It implies adopting Shiva-vrata: steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), simple disciplined living, and cultivating vairagya. As supportive Shaiva marks, one may wear rudraksha and apply tripundra bhasma with remembrance of Shiva.