Shloka 74

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

Devanagari script

शिवैकनिरता ये च तदूर्ध्वं संप्रयांति ते । तदर्वाग्जीवकोटिः स्यात्तदूर्ध्वं परकोटिकाः

Transliteration

śivaikaniratā ye ca tadūrdhvaṃ saṃprayāṃti te | tadarvāgjīvakoṭiḥ syāttadūrdhvaṃ parakoṭikāḥ

Translation

சிவனில் மட்டுமே ஒருமுகமாக நிலைபெற்றோர் மேலே, உயர்ந்த நிலையை அடைகின்றனர். அதற்கு கீழே கட்டுண்ட ஜீவர்களின் வகை; அதற்கு மேலே பரம வகைகள் (முக்த/அதீத) உள்ளன.

Word by Word

• शिव-एक-निरताः: those devoted exclusively to Śiva
• शिव-एक-निरताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + एक (प्रातिपदिक) + निरत (कृदन्त, √रम् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण—‘शिवे एकनिरत’ (tatpuruṣa: शिवे एकनिरताः)

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम

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

• तत्-ऊर्ध्वम्: above that; beyond that
• तत्-ऊर्ध्वम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययार्थे (adverbial) — ‘तस्मात् ऊर्ध्वम्/तदुपरि’

• संप्रयान्ति: go; proceed
• संप्रयान्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+प्र+या (√या धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘ये’ इत्यस्य अन्वयि

• तत्-अर्वाक्: below that; on this side of that
• तत्-अर्वाक्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अर्वाक् (अव्यय/दिक्शब्द)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययार्थे — ‘तस्मात् अर्वाक्/अधः’

• जीव-कोटिः: a crore of beings
• जीव-कोटिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीव (प्रातिपदिक) + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘जीवानां कोटिः’

• स्यात्: would be; is said to be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (√अस् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तत्-ऊर्ध्वम्: above that
• तत्-ऊर्ध्वम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययार्थे — ‘तदुपरि’

• पर-कोटिकाः: higher crores (beyond that)
• पर-कोटिकाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + कोटिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘परा कोटिकाः’ (higher crores)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga origin; it maps ontological classes: below are jīva-koṭis (bound souls), above are para-koṭis (higher, liberated/transcendent orders), reached by exclusive Śiva-niratā.

Significance: Encourages ekānta-bhakti (exclusive devotion) as the decisive orientation that moves the paśu from jīva-koṭi toward para-koṭi by Śiva’s grace.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches a Shaiva hierarchy: the bound jīva remains below, while one-pointed devotion to Shiva lifts the soul toward the higher, liberating state, affirming Shiva (Pati) as the supreme refuge and goal.

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

Exclusive devotion is practically cultivated through Saguna worship—especially Linga-upāsanā—where focused reverence, service, and remembrance mature into grace (anugraha) that elevates the devotee beyond ordinary jīva-bound limitation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt one-pointed Shiva-bhakti: daily Linga worship with Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and/or Rudrākṣa as aids to steady remembrance.