Shloka 47

Paramātma-Svarūpa-Nirṇaya: Strī–Puṃ–Napuṃsaka-Vicāra

Inquiry into the Supreme Self and Gendered Forms

Devanagari script

ज्ञानमित्यात्मनस्तस्य किंचिज्ज्ञानक्रियात्मकम् । इत्याहाद्यपदेनेशः पशुवर्गस्य लक्षणम्

Transliteration

jñānamityātmanastasya kiṃcijjñānakriyātmakam | ityāhādyapadeneśaḥ paśuvargasya lakṣaṇam

Translation

Bằng từ mở đầu “jñānam (tri thức)”, Đấng Chúa tể chỉ rõ rằng ngã cá thể chỉ có một phần tri thức và năng lực hành động hữu hạn. Vì thế, ngay qua lời đầu ấy, Īśa nêu dấu hiệu định danh của hạng paśu (linh hồn bị trói buộc).

Word by Word

• jñānam: knowledge
• jñānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• iti: thus (as ‘knowledge’)
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-प्रयोग)

• ātmanaḥ: of the self
• ātmanaḥ: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

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

• kiṃcit: somewhat / a little
• kiṃcit: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणवत्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kiṃcit (अव्यय/सर्वनाम-निपात)
• Form: Indefinite particle/pronominal indeclinable (अनिश्चितपरिमाणवाचक)

• jñānakriyātmakam: having the nature of knowledge and action
• jñānakriyātmakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jñāna + kriyā + ātmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective qualifying ‘jñānam’

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-प्रयोग)

• āha: said
• āha: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (अह् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• ādya-padena: by the first term
• ādya-padena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādya + pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); ‘by the first word/term’

• īśaḥ: the Lord
• īśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• paśuvargasya: of the class of bound souls (paśu)
• paśuvargasya: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paśu + varga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• lakṣaṇam: definition / characteristic
• lakṣaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); object of ‘āha’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shaiva Siddhanta categories of Pati–Pāśa–Paśu as taught in the Kailasa Samhita)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines the paśu (bound soul) as one whose knowledge and agency are real yet limited—implying dependence on Pati (Śiva) for पूर्णज्ञान (full illumination) and liberation from pāśa (bondage).

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

Since the paśu’s knowing and doing are limited, Saguna Śiva worship—especially through the Śiva-liṅga—provides a concrete means to receive grace (anugraha), purify bondage, and expand true knowledge toward realization of Pati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily Śiva-upāsanā with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while contemplating: “My knowledge and action are limited; may Śiva grant right knowledge and right conduct,” supported by Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and Rudrākṣa where customary.