Shloka 7

प्रणवार्थपद्धतिवर्णनम्

Methodical Explanation of the Meaning of Praṇava/Om

Devanagari script

अनादिमलसंश्लेषप्रागभावात्स्वभावतः । अत्यन्तपरिशुद्धात्मेत्यतोऽयं शिव उच्यते

Transliteration

anādimalasaṃśleṣaprāgabhāvātsvabhāvataḥ | atyantapariśuddhātmetyato'yaṃ śiva ucyate

Translation

அனாதி காலத்திலிருந்தே மலம் (அசுத்தம்) எனும் தொடர்பு அவருக்கு இயல்பாகவே இல்லாததால், அவரது ஆத்மஸ்வரூபம் முற்றிலும் தூயது. அதனால் அவர் ‘சிவன்’ என அழைக்கப்படுகிறார்.

Word by Word

• अनादि-मल-संश्लेष-प्रागभावात्: from the prior non-existence of beginningless impurity-contact
• अनादि-मल-संश्लेष-प्रागभावात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनादि (प्रातिपदिक) + मल (प्रातिपदिक) + संश्लेष (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रागभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), पञ्चमी (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन (singular); बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (अनादेः मलस्य संश्लेषस्य प्रागभावः)

• स्वभावतः: by nature / inherently
• स्वभावतः: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), पञ्चमी (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन (singular); अव्ययीभावार्थे (in the sense 'by nature/from nature')

• अत्यन्त-परिशुद्ध-आत्मा: one whose self is utterly pure
• अत्यन्त-परिशुद्ध-आत्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अत्यन्त (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + परिशुद्ध (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन (singular); कर्मधारयः (परिशुद्धः आत्मा)

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

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (causal/conclusive adverb)

• अयम्: this (one)
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• शिवः: Śiva / auspicious one
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन (singular)

• उच्यते: is called
• उच्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines Śiva as the supreme Pati whose essence is eternally pure—never tainted by mala—thereby establishing Him as the flawless source of grace that frees the soul (paśu) from bondage (pāśa).

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

Linga-worship reveres the same reality described here: the formless, ever-pure Śiva made accessible through a sacred form. Devotion to the Linga points the mind to His transcendence—untouched by impurity—while allowing personal worship (saguṇa-upāsanā).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as “pariśuddha” (perfectly pure) while repeating the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—to cultivate inner purification and surrender to the grace of the impurity-free Lord.