Shloka 32

Kāla-vañcana (Overcoming/Outwitting Time) and the Pañcabhūta Basis of the Body

Devanagari script

ज्ञात्वा परमिदं ब्रह्म सुखदं मुक्तिकारणम् । अवाह्यमक्षरं चैव सर्वोपाधिविवर्जितम्

Transliteration

jñātvā paramidaṃ brahma sukhadaṃ muktikāraṇam | avāhyamakṣaraṃ caiva sarvopādhivivarjitam

Translation

இந்த பரம்பிரம்மத்தை உணர்ந்து—இன்பம் அளிப்பதும் முக்திக்குக் காரணமுமான அதனை—ஞானிகள் பற்றிக்கொள்ள இயலாதது, அழியாதது, எல்லா உபாதிகளும் அற்ற தத்துவம் என அறிகின்றனர்.

Word by Word

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृत्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाल (prior action)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विशेषण (qualifying इदम्/ब्रह्म)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• ब्रह्म: Brahman, the Absolute
• ब्रह्म: Karma (कर्म; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• सुखदम्: bestowing happiness
• सुखदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (object-determinative: ‘giver of happiness’), द्वितीया एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विशेषण (of ब्रह्म)

• मुक्तिकारणम्: the cause of liberation
• मुक्तिकारणम्: Karma (कर्म; appositional)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative: ‘cause of liberation’), द्वितीया एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; ब्रह्मणः विशेषणवत्

• अवाह्यम्: not to be carried/led (unconveyable)
• अवाह्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + वह् (धातु) + यत् (कृत्)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/future passive participle; ‘to be carried/led’), नञ्-निषेधार्थ (a- privative) → ‘not to be carried/led’; द्वितीया एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• अक्षरम्: imperishable
• अक्षरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विशेषण (of ब्रह्म)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis)

• सर्वोपाधिविवर्जितम्: free from all adjuncts/limitations
• सर्वोपाधिविवर्जितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + उपाधि + विवर्जित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative: ‘devoid of all limiting adjuncts’), द्वितीया एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विशेषण (of ब्रह्म)

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 points the seeker to realize Shiva as the Supreme Brahman—imperishable, beyond all limiting conditions—whose direct knowledge grants true bliss and becomes the cause of moksha.

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

While the verse describes the upadhi-free, ungraspable Absolute (Nirguna Shiva), Shaiva practice uses the Linga and other saguna supports as compassionate aids to steady devotion and meditation until that highest realization dawns.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as Akshara (imperishable) and Sarvopādhi-vivarjita (beyond all adjuncts); support the mind with japa of the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and inner contemplation of the Linga as a gateway to the formless Reality.