अतिगुह्यमिदम्विप्राः प्रणवार्थप्रकाशकम् । शिवज्ञानपरं ह्येतद्भवतामार्तिनाशनम्
atiguhyamidamviprāḥ praṇavārthaprakāśakam | śivajñānaparaṃ hyetadbhavatāmārtināśanam
โอ้พราหมณ์ทั้งหลาย คำสอนนี้ล้ำลึกยิ่งนัก เป็นสิ่งที่ทำให้ความหมายแห่งปรณวะ (โอม) กระจ่างแจ้ง เป็นคำสอนที่มุ่งสู่ญาณแห่งพระศิวะ และยังทำลายความทุกข์ร้อนของท่านทั้งหลาย
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Mantra: praṇava (Oṃ) (artha-prakāśa emphasized)
Type: gayatri
It declares that the highest, most guarded instruction is the realization-centered knowledge of Śiva, revealed through understanding the Praṇava (Om), and that such Śiva-jñāna removes existential distress (ārti) and leads toward liberation.
By pointing to Praṇava-meaning and Śiva-jñāna, the verse frames external worship (including Liṅga-pūjā and devotion to Saguna Śiva) as a gateway to inner realization—moving from form-based devotion to direct knowledge of Śiva as Pati, the liberating Lord.
Meditative japa and contemplation of the Praṇava (Om) with Śiva-bhāva—often supported in Shaiva practice by mantra-dhyāna (including Pañcākṣarī, "Om Namaḥ Śivāya")—is implied as the means to awaken Śiva-jñāna and dissolve distress.