Shloka 1

प्रणवार्थ-शिवतत्त्व-निर्णयः

The Determination of Śiva as the Meaning of Praṇava

Devanagari script

श्रीब्रह्मण्य उवाच । साधुसाधु महाभाग वामदेव मुनीश्वर । त्वमतीव शिवे भक्तश्श्विज्ञानवतांवरः

Transliteration

śrībrahmaṇya uvāca | sādhusādhu mahābhāga vāmadeva munīśvara | tvamatīva śive bhaktaśśvijñānavatāṃvaraḥ

Translation

ศรีพรหมัณยะกล่าวว่า “ดีแล้ว ดีแล้ว โอ้วามเทวผู้มีบุญยิ่ง เจ้าแห่งฤๅษีทั้งหลาย ท่านมีภักติยิ่งต่อพระศิวะ และเป็นยอดแห่งผู้รู้ศิวญาณอันแท้จริง”

Word by Word

• श्री-ब्रह्मण्यः: the venerable Brahmaṇya
• श्री-ब्रह्मण्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + ब्रह्मण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (श्रीमान् ब्रह्मण्यः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• साधु: well done!
• साधु: Bhāva (भाव/उद्गार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साधु (अव्यय/सुबन्त-प्रयोग)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रशंसावाचक (interjection of approval)

• साधु: well done!
• साधु: Bhāva (भाव/उद्गार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साधु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रशंसावाचक (repetition for emphasis)

• महाभाग: O greatly fortunate one
• महाभाग: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास ('महान् भागः यस्य'); पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Vocative singular)

• वामदेव: O Vāmadeva
• वामदेव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Vocative singular)

• मुनीश्वर: O lord of sages
• मुनीश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मुनिनाम् ईश्वरः); पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Vocative singular)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular), सर्वनाम

• अतीव: exceedingly
• अतीव: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतीव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): intensifier

• शिवे: in/with regard to Śiva
• शिवे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Locative singular)

• भक्तः: a devotee
• भक्तः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण/प्रेडिकेट)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• शिव-ज्ञानवताम्: of those who possess knowledge of Śiva
• शिव-ज्ञानवताम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञानवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (शिवस्य ज्ञानं येषां ते); पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Genitive plural)

• वरः: the best/excellent one
• वरः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण/प्रेडिकेट)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular)

Speaker

Śrī Brahmaṇya (Kārttikeya/Skanda)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vamadeva
• Kartikeya

FAQs

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

The verse establishes that in the Kailāsa Saṃhitā, the highest praise is for a devotee whose bhakti is joined with Śiva-jñāna—devotion that matures into clear understanding of Pati (Śiva), which is central to Shaiva Siddhānta.

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

By honoring a devotee “exceedingly devoted to Śiva,” the verse supports Saguna worship (personal devotion to Lord Śiva, including Liṅga-pūjā) as a legitimate and elevating path that culminates in Śiva-jñāna, not merely external ritual.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to cultivate steady Śiva-bhakti alongside contemplation on Śiva’s nature (Śiva-jñāna); this is commonly supported by daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and focused remembrance of Śiva during worship.