Shloka 4

Ṣaḍvidhārtha-Parijñāna: Praṇavārtha and the Sixfold Unity of Meaning (षड्विधार्थपरिज्ञानम् / प्रणवार्थपरिज्ञानम्)

Devanagari script

एतमर्त्थमविज्ञाय पशुशास्त्रविमोहितः । अद्याप्यहम्महासेन भ्रान्तश्च शिवमायया

Transliteration

etamartthamavijñāya paśuśāstravimohitaḥ | adyāpyahammahāsena bhrāntaśca śivamāyayā

Translation

不明此真谛，我——摩诃军（Mahāsena）——被为受缚众生（paśu）而设的诸论所迷惑。直至今日，我仍为湿婆的幻力（māyā）所扰而迷惘。

Word by Word

• एतम्: this
• एतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; demonstrative adjective/pronoun used adjectivally

• अर्थम्: meaning/purport
• अर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• अविज्ञाय: not knowing
• अविज्ञाय: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), उपसर्गः अव-; ‘not having understood/without knowing’ (negative sense)

• पशु-शास्त्र-विमोहितः: deluded by the Paśu-śāstra
• पशु-शास्त्र-विमोहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पशु (प्रातिपदिक) + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वि-मोहित (कृदन्त, मुह् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; समासः—पशुशास्त्रेण विमोहितः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• अद्य: today/now
• अद्य: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• महासेन: by/with Mahāsena
• महासेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महासेन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; proper name

• भ्रान्तः: bewildered
• भ्रान्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्रान्त (कृदन्त; भ्रम् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) used adjectivally

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• शिव-मायया: by Śiva’s māyā
• शिव-मायया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; समासः—शिवस्य माया (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Mahāsena (Skanda/Kartikeya), speaking within the Kailāsa Saṃhitā discourse as narrated in the Shiva Purana tradition

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Mahāsena (Kartikeya/Skanda)

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva Siddhanta idea that the bound soul (paśu) can be misled by limited doctrines and that true discernment arises only when Śiva’s veiling māyā is transcended through His grace.

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

By admitting delusion under Śiva’s māyā, the verse points to the need for turning to Śiva as the liberating Lord (Pati); Linga-worship and devotion to Saguna Śiva cultivate surrender and clarity that lead beyond bondage.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with devotion, supported by Shaiva disciplines like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa, to purify the mind and overcome delusion.