Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

अर्द्धमात्रा महेशानि बिन्दुनादस्वरूपिणी । वर्णनीया न वै चाद्धा ज्ञेया ज्ञानिभिरेव सा

Transliteration

arddhamātrā maheśāni bindunādasvarūpiṇī | varṇanīyā na vai cāddhā jñeyā jñānibhireva sā

Translation

హే మహేశానీ, అర్ధమాత్ర బిందు-నాద స్వరూపిణి. ఆమెను వాక్కుతో పూర్తిగా వర్ణించలేము; జ్ఞానులు మాత్రమే ప్రత్యక్షానుభవంతో ఆమెను తెలుసుకొనగలరు.

Word by Word

अर्द्धमात्राthe half-mātrā

महेशानिO Maheśānī (Pārvatī)

बिन्दुनादस्वरूपिणीhaving the form of bindu and nāda

वर्णनीयाis to be described

नnot

वैindeed

चand

अद्धाclearly; directly

ज्ञेयाis to be known

ज्ञानिभिःby the knowers; by the wise

एवonly; indeed

साshe/that (half-mātrā)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (teaching Parvati in the Kailasha Samhita’s yogic-philosophical context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

Parvati

FAQs

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

It states that the subtlest truth of Śakti—expressed as nāda and bindu and hinted by the ‘ardhamātrā’—cannot be captured by speech; it is realized inwardly by jñānins through direct yogic knowledge.

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

Linga worship begins with form and symbol (saguṇa support), but its aim is to lead the devotee to the formless depth where nāda-bindu and the ardhamātrā indicate the transcendent reality of Śiva–Śakti beyond description.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Mantra-japa with inward listening (nāda-anusandhāna) is implied: repeat a Śaiva mantra with steady attention until the mind settles into subtle vibration (nāda) and seed-awareness (bindu), where the truth is ‘known’ rather than spoken.