Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 10

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

Devanagari script

जीवन्मुक्तस्य सूक्ष्मं हि सर्वसारं हि तस्य हि । मंत्रेणार्थानुसंधानं स्वदेहविलयावधि

Transliteration

jīvanmuktasya sūkṣmaṃ hi sarvasāraṃ hi tasya hi | maṃtreṇārthānusaṃdhānaṃ svadehavilayāvadhi

Translation

Para sa jīvanmukta (yaong pinalaya habang nabubuhay), ang maselang pagkaunawang ito ang tunay niyang diwa—ang sukdulang buod. Sa pamamagitan ng mantra, pinananatili niya ang pagninilay sa kahulugan nito, nagpapatuloy hanggang sa pagkalusaw ng sarili niyang katawan.

Word by Word

• jīvanmuktasya: of the living-liberated one
• jīvanmuktasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jīvan-mukta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; compound: jīvan (जीवत्) + mukta (मुक्त)

• sūkṣmam: subtle (thing)
• sūkṣmam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūkṣma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; used adjectivally

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) for emphasis/indeed

• sarvasāram: the essence of all
• sarvasāram: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva-sāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; tatpuruṣa: sarvasya sāraḥ (सर्वस्य सारः)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• tasya: of him/of that
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/of him/of that)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; pronoun

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• mantreṇa: by/with the mantra
• mantreṇa: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• artha-anusaṃdhānam: contemplation/connection of meanings
• artha-anusaṃdhānam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha-anusaṃdhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; tatpuruṣa: arthānām anusaṃdhānam (अर्थानाम् अनुसंधानम्)

• sva-deha-vilaya-avadhi: up to the dissolution of one’s own body
• sva-deha-vilaya-avadhi: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva-deha-vilaya-avadhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; tatpuruṣa chain: svasya dehasya vilayaḥ (स्वस्य देहस्य विलयः) + avadhi (अवधि)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Mantra Metadata

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It states that the hallmark of a jīvanmukta is subtle, inward abidance in the essence of truth, sustained by mantra-japa joined with contemplation of its meaning, right up to the falling away of the body.

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

In Shaiva practice, Saguna worship (such as Linga-upāsanā) supports steadiness of mind; this verse highlights the inner completion of that worship—mantra with artha-anusandhāna—where devotion ripens into continuous awareness of Shiva as the indwelling Reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Mantra-japa combined with reflection on the mantra’s meaning (artha), maintained as a lifelong sādhana; it can be paired with Shaiva disciplines like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as supportive observances.