Shloka 129

Praṇava-Māhātmya and the Twofold Mantra (Sūkṣma–Sthūla) in Śaiva Sādhanā

Devanagari script

नमोन्तं वा नमःपूर्वमातुरः सर्वदा जपेत् । ततः स्त्रीणां तथैवोह्यगुरुर्निर्दर्शयेत्क्रमात्

Transliteration

namontaṃ vā namaḥpūrvamāturaḥ sarvadā japet | tataḥ strīṇāṃ tathaivohyagururnirdarśayetkramāt

Translation

ผู้ที่กำลังทุกข์ร้อนพึงชปะมนตร์ที่ลงท้ายด้วย “นะมะห์” หรือขึ้นต้นด้วย “นะมะห์” อยู่เสมอ; แล้วต่อจากนั้น คุรุพึงสอนสตรีทั้งหลายด้วยประการเดียวกัน โดยแสดงลำดับวิธีให้ถูกต้องทีละขั้น

Word by Word

• नमः: salutation, obeisance
• नमः: Sambodhana/Prayojana (सम्बोधन/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; indeclinable-like usage as salutation

• अन्तम्: the end (ending)
• अन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle: 'or')

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambodhana/Prayojana (सम्बोधन/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; used as salutation

• पूर्व: prior, first
• पूर्व: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• मातुरः: the reciter/chanter
• मातुरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; agent noun (one who measures/recites)

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• जपेत्: should recite/chant
• जपेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: ततः-शब्दः, अपादान/क्रमसूचक-अव्यय (then/from that)

• स्त्रीणाम्: of women
• स्त्रीणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन

• तथा: thus, likewise
• तथा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (manner adverb)

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• उ: (particle)
• उ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उ (अव्यय)
• Form: पादपूरण/निपात (expletive particle)

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चयार्थक-निपात (for/indeed)

• गुरुः: the teacher
• गुरुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• निर्दर्शयेत्: should indicate/show
• निर्दर्शयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्दिश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: निर्

• क्रमात्: in order, step by step
• क्रमात्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे (in sequence/gradually)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Vidyeśvara/Viśveśvara instructions to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Highlights compassionate accessibility of Śiva-mantra for the distressed and formal guru-guidance for women—seen as a dharmic support for sādhana in daily life.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: …namaḥ (ending) / namaḥ… (beginning) (formulaic instruction; exact full mantra not quoted)

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Guru

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that in times of distress, refuge in “namaḥ” (humble surrender) through steady japa purifies the mind and turns the soul (paśu) toward Lord Shiva (Pati), aligning practice with devotion and inner discipline.

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

Namaḥ-oriented japa is a core limb of Saguna Shiva worship—often performed before the Linga—where surrender and remembrance support external pūjā and gradually mature into inward contemplation of Shiva’s presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Continuous mantra-japa using a form that begins or ends with “namaḥ,” taught in proper sequence by a Guru; it can be integrated with Shaiva daily worship such as Linga-pūjā, rudrākṣa use, and bhasma (tripuṇḍra) observances where applicable.