Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

भूवायुकनकार्णोद्योःशब्दाद्याश्च तथा दश । आशान्वयेदशपुनः प्रवृत्ता इति कथ्यते

Transliteration

bhūvāyukanakārṇodyoḥśabdādyāśca tathā daśa | āśānvayedaśapunaḥ pravṛttā iti kathyate

Translation

زمین، ہوا، آگ (کنک-تیج)، پانی اور نور/آکاش؛ نیز شبد وغیرہ دس—یہ دس کہلاتے ہیں۔ پھر جہات (آشا) کے تعلق سے مزید دس بھی ظاہر ہوتے ہیں—یوں بیان ہوا ہے۔

Word by Word

• भू: earth (bhū)
• भू: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (समाहार-निर्देशे)

• वायु: wind
• वायु: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (समाहार-निर्देशे)

• कनक: gold
• कनक: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (समाहार-निर्देशे)

• अर्णोद्योः: of Arṇa and Udy(a) (two)
• अर्णोद्योः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्णोद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन; (पाठभेद/समास-सम्भावना: अर्णः + उद्यः/उद्योः)

• शब्दाद्याः: beginning with sound
• शब्दाद्याः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शब्द (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘शब्दः आदिः यसाम्’ (beginning with sound)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण/निपात (adverb/particle)

• दश: ten
• दश: Saṅkhyā-viśeṣaṇa (संख्या-विशेषण/Numeral qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या; (here) विशेषण, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचनार्थे

• आशा: direction/quarter
• आशा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (समाहार-निर्देशे)

• अन्वये: in the sequence/connection
• अन्वये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• दश: ten
• दश: Saṅkhyā-viśeṣaṇa (संख्या-विशेषण/Numeral qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्या, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचनार्थे

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• प्रवृत्ताः: set forth/emanated
• प्रवृत्ताः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण/Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + वृत् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय) → प्रवृत्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle)

• इति: thus
• इति: Vākya-sambandha (वाक्यसम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उद्धरण-चिह्न (quotative)

• कथ्यते: is said
• कथ्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya in the Vidyeshvara/Viśveśvarasaṃhitā context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

FAQs

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

It classifies manifested reality into enumerated categories (tattvas), implying that the world of elements and sensory potentials is a structured emergence; in Shaiva Siddhanta, knowing these as dependent manifestations helps the soul (paśu) turn toward Shiva (Pati) for liberation.

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

By listing the building-blocks of experience (elements and sound etc.), the text points to what is transcended in Linga-worship: the devotee offers the sensory and elemental world back to Shiva, recognizing the Linga as the support and governor of all categories.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is tattva-śuddhi (purification of elements) during japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), mentally offering sound and the other sense-potentials into Shiva while maintaining Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and a steady inner recollection.