Shloka 18

Śiva–Hari–Rudra–Vidhīnāṃ Tattva-nirṇayaḥ

Identity of Śiva, Viṣṇu, Rudra, and Brahmā; Nirguṇa–Saguṇa Reconciliation

Devanagari script

अज्ञानं विविधं ह्येतद्विज्ञानं विविधं न हि । तत्प्रकारमहं वक्ष्ये शृणुतादरतो द्विजाः

Transliteration

ajñānaṃ vividhaṃ hyetadvijñānaṃ vividhaṃ na hi | tatprakāramahaṃ vakṣye śṛṇutādarato dvijāḥ

Translation

อวิชชานี้มีได้หลากหลายประการ แต่ญาณแท้หาได้หลากหลายไม่ เราจักกล่าวถึงลักษณะของมัน (อวิชชานั้น) ท่านทวิชะทั้งหลายจงฟังด้วยความเคารพ

Word by Word

• अज्ञानम्: ignorance
• अज्ञानम्: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Nominative singular

• विविधम्: various, manifold
• विविधम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Nominative singular; विशेषणम् अज्ञानस्य

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: हेतु/समर्थन (Justification)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक (causal/emphatic particle)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: विशेषण/अन्वय (Apposition to अज्ञानम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Demonstrative pronoun, nominative singular

• विज्ञानम्: true knowledge, discernment
• विज्ञानम्: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Nominative singular

• विविधम्: various
• विविधम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Nominative singular; विशेषणम् विज्ञानस्य

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — निषेध (negation)

• हि: indeed
• हि: अवधारण/समर्थन (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — निश्चयार्थक (emphatic particle)

• तत्-प्रकारम्: its manner/type
• तत्-प्रकारम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + प्रकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Accusative singular; समासः तत्पुरुषः (तस्य प्रकारम् = its manner/type)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन — 1st person pronoun, nominative singular

• वक्ष्ये: will explain
• वक्ष्ये: विधेय (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple future/लृट्), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person/उत्तम), एकवचन — 1st sg future; आत्मनेपदम्

• शृणुत: listen
• शृणुत: विधेय (आज्ञार्थक क्रिया/Imperative verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/लोट्), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd/मध्यम), बहुवचन — 2nd pl imperative; परस्मैपदम्

• आदरात्: with respect/earnestly
• आदरात्: हेतु/भाव (Ablative of manner/cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन — Ablative singular; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (with respect/earnestly)

• द्विजाः: O twice-born (brahmins)
• द्विजाः: सम्बोधन (Address/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Nominative plural; सम्बोधनार्थेऽपि प्रथमा (vocative sense)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

It teaches that bondage appears in many forms (varied ignorances and confusions), while liberating wisdom is essentially one—clear recognition of the Supreme Lord (Pati) and the removal of the bonds (pāśa) through right understanding and devotion.

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

By implying that diverse misconceptions must be corrected, it supports Saguna worship such as Linga-upāsanā as a practical means to purify the mind and steady devotion, culminating in the single, decisive knowledge of Shiva as the supreme reality and liberator.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse points to attentive listening (śravaṇa) to Shaiva teaching; in practice, this is strengthened through daily Linga worship with bhasma (tripuṇḍra), japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and disciplined contemplation to remove ajñāna.