Shloka 14

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

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मादिस्थावरान्तानां सर्वेषां प्राणिनां खलु । प्राणः प्रणव एवायं तस्मात्प्रणव ईरितः

Transliteration

brahmādisthāvarāntānāṃ sarveṣāṃ prāṇināṃ khalu | prāṇaḥ praṇava evāyaṃ tasmātpraṇava īritaḥ

Translation

బ్రహ్మాది నుండి స్థావరాంతమువరకు సమస్త ప్రాణులకూ ప్రాణము ఇదే ప్రణవం (ఓం); అందుకే దీనిని ‘ప్రణవ’మని కీర్తిస్తారు।

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मादिस्थावरान्तानाम्: of (beings) from Brahmā onward up to the immovables
• ब्रह्मादिस्थावरान्तानाम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + आदि + स्थावर + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (समूहवाचक), षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (ब्रह्मादि-स्थावर-अन्तः येषां ते)

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• प्राणिनाम्: of living beings
• प्राणिनाम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राणिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• खलु: indeed
• खलु: Sambandha-bodhaka (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: खलु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक/अनुनासिक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• प्राणः: breath/life-force
• प्राणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• प्रणवः: the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवः: Pradhāna-nāma (प्रधान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समानााधिकरण (apposition)

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: Sambandha-bodhaka (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक निपात (restrictive particle)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात् इति पञ्चमी-एकवचनरूपं निपातवत् (ablatival adverb); हेत्वर्थ (therefore/from that)

• प्रणवः: praṇava
• प्रणवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ईरितः: is called/declared
• ईरितः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ईर् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘उक्तः/प्रोक्तः’

Speaker

Lord Shiva (teaching in the Kailasa Samhita discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Śiva as Lord of the universe (viśva-nātha) is intuited here through praṇava as the ‘prāṇa’ of all beings; the verse supports the idea that all life is sustained by Śiva’s śabda-śakti.

Significance: Hearing/uttering Oṃ as the life of all beings aligns with Kashi’s mokṣa-kṣetra theology where Śiva grants liberation; reinforces nāma/śabda as saving power.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: ॐ (Praṇava)

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It identifies Oṁ (Praṇava) as the very prāṇa—the sustaining spiritual vitality—present in all beings, implying that meditation on Oṁ aligns the individual soul (paśu) with the Lord (Pati) beyond limiting bonds (pāśa).

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

Oṁ functions as the seed-sound that leads the mind from outward forms to inner awareness; in Linga worship it is used to sanctify rituals and to contemplate Shiva as both Saguna (worshipped with form) and the transcendent reality indicated by Praṇava.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice Praṇava-japa (Oṁ repetition) with breath-awareness (prāṇa-smṛti), and optionally combine it with Panchakshara japa—“Oṁ Namaḥ Śivāya”—as a Shaiva sādhanā, especially suited for Mahashivratri observance.