Shloka 79

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

Devanagari script

तदर्वाग्बिंदुरूपं हि नादरूपं तदुत्तरम् । तदर्वाक्कर्मलोकस्तु तदूर्ध्वं ज्ञानलोककः

Transliteration

tadarvāgbiṃdurūpaṃ hi nādarūpaṃ taduttaram | tadarvākkarmalokastu tadūrdhvaṃ jñānalokakaḥ

Translation

เบื้องล่างนั้นคือโลกในรูป “พินทุ” และเบื้องบนคือโลกในรูป “นาทะ” เบื้องล่างเป็นกรรมโลก ส่วนเบื้องบนเป็นญาณโลกอันตั้งมั่น

Word by Word

• तत्: that (as reference)
• तत्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• अर्वाक्: below / on this side
• अर्वाक्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अर्वाक् (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; adverb/preposition-like (directional)

• बिन्दु-रूपम्: the form of the bindu
• बिन्दु-रूपम्: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बिन्दु (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): 'of a bindu'

• हि: indeed / for
• हि: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (निपात)

• नाद-रूपम्: the form of nāda
• नाद-रूपम्: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाद (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'of nāda'

• तत्: that
• तत्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• उत्तरम्: higher / subsequent
• उत्तरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular; used adjectivally

• तत्: that
• तत्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular

• अर्वाक्: below
• अर्वाक्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अर्वाक् (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; directional adverb

• कर्म-लोकः: the world of action
• कर्म-लोकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st—प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'world of action'

• तु: but / however
• तु: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (निपात), contrastive

• तत्: that
• तत्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular

• ऊर्ध्वम्: above
• ऊर्ध्वम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (directional)

• ज्ञान-लोककः: the knowledge-world
• ज्ञान-लोककः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + लोकक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st—प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'world (called) of knowledge'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It outlines a Shaiva hierarchy of inner and cosmic planes: karma (action-bound living) is lower, while jñāna (liberating insight) is higher, with Bindu and Nāda indicating subtle spiritual principles leading the seeker toward Shiva-realization.

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

The Linga is presented in Shaiva thought as a bridge from the manifest to the subtle: devotion and ritual (karma) mature into inner contemplation of Nāda-Bindu, culminating in knowledge (jñāna) that reveals Shiva as the supreme Pati beyond bondage.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Move from outer karma to inner japa and dhyāna: repeat the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady breath-awareness, listening inwardly to nāda and concentrating the mind into bindu-like one-pointedness.