Shloka 39

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

Devanagari script

वामोरुस्थितशक्त्या च विराजं तं महागणैः । मृगटंकधरं देवं वरदाभयपाणिकम्

Transliteration

vāmorusthitaśaktyā ca virājaṃ taṃ mahāgaṇaiḥ | mṛgaṭaṃkadharaṃ devaṃ varadābhayapāṇikam

Translation

वामोरुस्थितशक्त्या सह महागणैर्विराजमानं तं देवं मृगटङ्कधरं वरदाभयमुद्रापाणिं ददर्श।

Word by Word

• वाम-ऊरु-स्थित-शक्त्या: with the power stationed on the left thigh
• वाम-ऊरु-स्थित-शक्त्या: Karana (करण/साधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक) + ऊरु (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थित (कृदन्त; √स्था धातु) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/साधन), एकवचन; समासः—वामोरुस्थितशक्तिः (वामे ऊरौ स्थिता या शक्तिः)

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

• विराजम्: radiant, splendid
• विराजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विराज् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• महागणैः: by/with the great gaṇas (attendants)
• महागणैः: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महागण (प्रातिपदिक; महा + गण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—महागणः (महान् गणः)

• मृग-टंक-धरम्: bearing the deer and the axe
• मृग-टंक-धरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृग (प्रातिपदिक) + टंक (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (कृदन्त; √धृ धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—मृगटंकधरः (मृगटंकं धरति इति)

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वरद-अभय-पाणिकम्: whose hands grant boons and fearlessness
• वरद-अभय-पाणिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरद (प्रातिपदिक) + अभय (प्रातिपदिक) + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—वरदाभयपाणिकः (वरदः च अभयः च—एते पाण्योः/पाणिषु यस्य)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Kāśī’s Viśvanātha is frequently contemplated with Umā and gaṇas; this verse supplies a dhyāna-rūpa suitable for Kāśī-centric worship and pañcākṣara-japa.

Significance: Dhyāna of Umāpati amid gaṇas is held to confer abhaya and varada—inner fearlessness and fulfillment—especially potent in Kāśī.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti
• Ganas

FAQs

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

The verse presents Saguna Śiva as Pati (the Lord) inseparable from Śakti, showing that divine grace (varada) and protection (abhaya) flow from the unity of consciousness (Śiva) and power (Śakti), leading the bound soul toward liberation.

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

While the Liṅga points to Śiva beyond form, this description supports Saguna upāsanā: devotees meditate on Śiva’s compassionate form—surrounded by gaṇas and granting abhaya—so the mind becomes steady and receptive to His grace, which culminates in realizing the Liṅga’s transcendent truth.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice dhyāna by visualizing Śiva with varada-abhaya mudrā and reciting the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”); approach worship with fearlessness and surrender, offering bilva leaves and maintaining purity through simple vrata observances (especially on Mahāśivarātri).